THREE THINGS TOWATCH

1. All eyes on Matt

After being dismissed by Joe Gibbs Racing after the 2017 season, some thought we would never see Matt Kenseth in a stock car again. That changes this week as Kenseth takes the wheel of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. “I think it's a good challenge for me that I'm looking forward to, and not just the driving part but a lot of the rest of it, too; get in there, get my hands dirty,” Kenseth said.

2. Kansas showdown

It still doesn't mean much at this point of the season, but the top three favorites to win the Cup Series championship this season have won the past four races at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. Defending champion Martin Truex Jr. is riding a two-race winning streak at Kansas. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick each won one Kansas race in 2016. Kansas (Race 12) will mark the end of the first third of the Cup schedule.

3. Fading fast?

Jimmie Johnson has turned 3,322 laps this

season in the No. 48 Chevrolet and has not led one lap. Not only that, but Johnson is riding a 34-race losing streak that stretches back to this time last season. With a ninth-place finish at Dover, he was best in class for Chevy. Johnson said he needs better qualifying efforts. “If we can get our Fridays sorted out and start closer to the front, we'll have much better finishes,” he said.

[AP/CHUCK BURTON] Matt Kenseth begins his new adventure this weekend at Kansas.