Although #20-Matt Kenseth hasn’t won this season and has just one top-10 finish, he’s exhibited as much speed as his teammates. His 164 laps led is third among the JGR drivers. Kenseth just doesn’t have the results to show for it. So why are pundits and fans questioning Kenseth’s future in the sport? ‘This is turning into a huge retirement topic right now for some odd reason-I’m not sure why and I’m getting a little bit of a complex about it,’ Kenseth said sarcastically. With Jeff Gordon, 44, stepping out of the seat last year – and Kenseth turning the same age last month, comparisons are inevitable. The recent retirements of Peyton Manning, who will be an honorary race official and guest of Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Sunday, and Kobe Bryant certainly have fueled the topic. But perhaps the greatest reason the rumor won’t die is the long list of development drivers JGR has waiting in the wings – particularly Saturday’s Xfinity Series winner Erik Jones and points leader Daniel Suarez. Kenseth’s not going anywhere But Kenseth’s boss, Joe Gibbs, insists emphatically his senior driver’s future is secure. ‘Kenseth’s future is – we love him,’ Gibbs says with a laugh. ‘I can tell you that right now. We love Matt Kenseth. He’s a big part of our program. We don’t need to announce anything. He’s solid.’ Kenseth said retirement was the farthest thing from his mind. ‘I feel incredibly good, I’m driving I think arguably the best team in the sport, love the guys I’m working with and we’re still really competitive,’ Kenseth said. ‘Our sport is just so different. I think you see a lot of people not go out on their own terms because they keep trying to do it for too long because they can still get a job and they can still maybe get in stuff that’s maybe not as good, but somebody is still going to hire them.’(in part from Motorsport)
