Matt Kenseth And Roush Fenway Racing To Part Ways At The End Of Season

Matt Kenseth will no longer be racing with Roush Fenway Racing by the end of the current NASCAR season and is expected to replaced in his No. 17 car by another driver in the near future, reports The Boston Herald.

Racing all but one of his 452 starts with Roush Fenway Racing, there was speculation that the move might be coming after his race this past weekend at Sonoma. However, Kenseth declined to comment on the rumors leaving the speculation unconfirmed until Roush Fenway Racing made an announcement on Tuesday.

“I’d like to thank Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service,” team co-owner Jack Roush said in a statement.

“Matt has been an integral part of this organization for well over a decade, and we are extremely appreciative of his accomplishments and contributions to the team, and will always consider him a part of the Roush Fenway family.”

Possessing one of the longest current relationships in NASCAR, this split between the two comes as bit of a surprise with Roush and Kenseth offering no explanation as to why they are choosing to part ways.

”I’m very thankful to Jack Roush for the opportunities he’s given me over the past 14 years. Together we have enjoyed a lot of success,” Matt Kenseth followed up on Twitter.

”And as a team we are committed as ever to the remainder of the 2012 season and chasing a 3rd sprint cup title for Jack and RFR.”

Kenseth and teammate Greg Biffle are ranked 1st and 2nd in the Sprint Cup Series point standings and are in a great position to win a 3rd Sprint Cup title for Roush Fenway Racing.

The AP reports that Kenseth’s No. 17 car is expected to be filled by Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. while Kenseth is rumored to be heading to Joe Gibbs Racing to fill Joey Logano’s No. 20 car.

What do you think of Matt Kenseth parting ways with Roush Fenway Racing?