NASCAR

Matt Kenseth Announces He's Probably Out Of Joe Gibbs Racing For 2018

Matt Kenseth Announces He's Probably Out Of Joe Gibbs Racing For 2018

At Kentucky Speedway, Matt Kenseth revealed that he will probably not return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2018 and is looking for a ride.

Jul 7, 2017 by Dan Beaver
Matt Kenseth Announces He's Probably Out Of Joe Gibbs Racing For 2018
Matt Kenseth announced on Friday that he is not expecting to return to Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2018 season.

"I'm not really worried about it, but as of today, I don't have a job for next year," the 45-year-old veteran NASCAR driver said in a press conference at Kentucky Speedway before practice for the Quaker State 400.

Kenseth sits 11th in the points, and with 10 drivers locked into the playoffs with wins, he has been in and out of contention on a weekly basis. Neither Kenseth nor any of the other Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have won in 2017.

"I don't think I will have the option to return to race at JGR next year, unfortunately," Kenseth continued.

In 17 races so far this season, Kenseth has scored only three top fives--with a best of third in the Quick Trip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway well back in March. He has three more top 10s.

"I almost feel like you know with the race team that I drive for and the people on my particular team as far as the 20 and the things we do, if we can't be one of the 16 cars, kind of shame on us," he said. "I feel like it's a great race team and I've never really worried about it a lot, but certainly we're not in a great spot now that the point system is a lot different than it's ever been again. We got way behind on points at the beginning of the year with the wrecks and the DNFs and all that stuff. It's just the spot we're in.

"We're winless as a company in July. We need to go out and win and that will take care of a lot of problems."

With Kenseth's uncertain future, he could join Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart as notable veterans to leave the sport.

"It's been kind of a slow start," Kenseth said. "It has not been a good year at all. Not nearly up to my standards or my team's standards. You know really trying to get back to Victory Lane."

When asked if the No. 88 ride that is being vacated by Earnhardt, Kenseth replied, "You know, I probably already said too much about what I'm not doing next year, so I don't really have anything to talk about for what I am doing. Like I said, at this point -- at this point -- I don't have anything going on for next year and pretty focused on trying to get running better this year and winning some races."

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