Roush Fenway signs Kenseth to multiyear contract extension

CONCORD, N.C. -- Matt Kenseth signed a multiyear contract extension Thursday with Roush Fenway Racing to continue driving the No. 17 Ford.

Matt Kenseth, who won the title in 2003, went winless in 2008. (Getty Images)

The deal comes at the end of one of Kenseth's most disappointing seasons: He failed to win a race for the first time since 2001, and his 11th-place finish in the standings was his lowest since that season.

But the 2003 series champion has been with Roush since 1998, winning 16 Sprint Cup races and 24 Nationwide Series races. His championship was the first for owner Jack Roush at the Cup level.

"It's been a great 11 years at Roush Fenway Racing," Kenseth said. "We've had a lot of success together including a championship and I'm really proud of that. I'm looking forward to the next few years and winning another championship with Roush Fenway."

Roush also re-signed Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle this year, and the extension for Kenseth means either David Ragan or Jamie McMurray will have to leave the organization at the end of 2009. Roush currently has five Cup entries, but must scale it back to four to be in compliance with NASCAR's car cap.