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Danica Patrick: Top 5 Replacement Candidates in 2018

By Asher Fair

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JUNE 29: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Aspen Dental Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on June 29, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JUNE 29: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Aspen Dental Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on June 29, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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SPARTA, KENTUCKY – JULY 07: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Circle K Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
SPARTA, KENTUCKY – JULY 07: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Circle K Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Matt Kenseth

Over the course of his 18-year full-time NASCAR Cup Series career, Matt Kenseth has been about as consistent as they come. To go along with his championship in 2003, he also has six other finishes in the top 5 in the championship standings and four more in the top 10.

However, after 2017, his fifth season with Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth is unlikely to return to the team.

"“I do not think I will have the option to return to race at JGR next year. Unfortunately.”"

At 45 years of age, retirement is definitely on the table, but Kenseth may not be interested in calling it a career just yet.

"“I’m not really worried about it but as of today, I do not have a job for next year. Hope to still be racing.”"

While he has had a rough start to the 2017 season by his standards, particularly since he is winless through 18 races for the first time since 2014, he hasn’t really declined in production; after all, he has made the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons and has missed the playoffs just once since they began back in 2004.

Consider this. Danica Patrick currently drives the #10 car, and she has raced in 172 races and has still never finished in the top 5. Meanwhile, Matt Kenseth has finished in the top 5 in 174 races. Sure, he may be old, but he can still drive a race car, and he can certainly improve upon the quality of driving coming from the #10 car.

Next: Should Danica Patrick Go Back to the XFINITY Series?

Yes, the option exists that would allow Danica Patrick to return to the #10 car next season, but she doesn’t qualify as a replacement driver, so she is not included on this list.

Which driver do you think has the best chance to end up in the #10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford in the 2018 season? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow me on Instagram as well as Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter. Finally, don’t forget to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it.

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