While Matt Kenseth is no stranger to change, or the peaks and valleys of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, he enters the Kentucky race weekend without a win.
Strangely, the same can be said for the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization. Prior to opening practice, Kenseth noted, “It’s a little surprising that we haven’t won as an organization. But at this time of my career, I’m used to the ups and downs.”
For Kenseth, driver of the No. 20 Circle K Toyota Camry, he’s experienced success as a past champion and 38-time race winner. Presently, he acknowledges that his team is just “off.”
“We’re running well and we’re competitive as an organization, as you can see by Kyle (Busch)’s strong runs,” Kenseht observed. “I should have won three races this season.”.
Currently, the No. 20 team cannot close the deal in races. Perhaps that will change this weekend.
Kenseth enters the Quaker State 400 weekend with a strong runner up place finish last year. However, as he observed, “Brad (Keselowski) and Kyle are the two that tend to dominate this race. We managed to make it on fuel a year ago and grab that second place spot.”
In order to duplicate those efforts, Kenseth and his team will have to negotiate around a track that went through a second straight repave. Additionally, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) utilized the tire dragging method.
Kenseth expressed his liking to this unique method, stating, “I like the dragging of the tires. I just wish they would have done it in the high lane, not the bottom.”
Recently, Kentucky hosted Thursday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, various practices, and an Xfinity Series race prior to Saturday night’s Cup race.
By all means, Kenseth needs a strong showing at Kentucky and the rest of the season.
Most important, based on this morning’s presser, Kenseth let a little slip of the tongue to the press by revealing that he doesn’t have a job for next year. In fact, Joe Gibbs Racing is not an option for Kenseth in 2018.
When asked about rumors of him filling in for a year with Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 88 entry, he backpedaled, but that is just not something he’s looking at.
Ultimately, Kenseth has always been the quite one, slowly and methodically working his way through the field. Could his swan song be a nice slow ballad instead of rocking the pomp and circumstances? Time will tell for the Cambridge, WI native.
