SPARTA, KY – Matt Kenseth’s future at Joe Gibbs Racing is clouded after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran said Friday morning at Kentucky Speedway he is unsure on whether he’ll return to the powerhouse team for the 2018 season.
“I’m not really worried about it but as of today, I do not have a job for next year,” Kenseth said. “I hope to still be racing. … I don’t have anything lined up at this moment for 2018. I haven’t worked on anything real hard. But I do not think I will have the option to return to race at JGR next year, unfortunately.”
Kenseth, 45, currently drives the No. 20 Toyota for JGR but the organization has struggled to keep sponsorship intact long-term since the departure of Dollar General following the 2016 season.
Furthermore, the Cambridge, Wisc. native has struggled in his 20th year of Cup competition.
Entering Saturday night’s Quaker State 400, Kenseth has posted just three top-five and earned just three more top-10 finishes keeping him a distant 11th in the Cup standings with the cutoff race at Richmond in September looming.
“As we talked about, it’s been kind of a slow start,” added Kenseth. “It hasn’t been a good year at all, not nearly up to my standards or my team’s standards. Really trying to get back to Victory Lane, hopefully trying to get qualified for the playoffs here and have a shot at the championship is pretty much my focus at this
When pressed whether he would remain in the JGR family, the 38-time Cup winner didn’t see that as a choice.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Like I said, I don’t have a ride at this moment for next year. I haven’t really worked on anything really hard but I do not think I will have the option to work at JGR next year, unfortunately.”
Motorsport.com mentioned on Thursday that Furniture Row Racing rookie Erik Jones appears to ready to move into the No. 20 JGR Toyota for 2018. The 21-year-old NASCAR Next alumnus was coy when asked about his status for next season.
“I don’t know where I’m going to be yet,” Jones said. “They haven’t let me know. For me, I’ve been really happy at Furniture Row (Racing) and it’s been a steady group of guys over there that I think work really well together. I don’t yet.”
Thought to be in the final year of his contract, Kenseth’s name has surfaced to the impending open No. 88 ride at Hendrick Motorsports soon to be vacated by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Should Kenseth arrive on scene at Hendrick Motorsports to fill a one-year gap before William Byron graduates to the Cup in 2019.
However, as well as Byron has blossomed lately in his first year of XFINITY Series competition, the Hendrick Motorsports development driver could be evaluated sooner than later.
Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, however, despite the chatter insists he’s without a ride for 2018.
“I don’t have a ride at this moment for next year,” Kenseth said. “I really haven’t worked on anything real hard, but I do not think I will have the option to race at JGR next year, unfortunately.
“I probably already said too much about what I’m not doing next year.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
