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NASCAR: Five Possible Landing Spots for Matt Kenseth in 2018

By Asher Fair

WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Toyota Care Toyota, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Toyota Care Toyota, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 22: Erik Jones, driver of the #77 Sport Clips Toyota, drives through the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 22, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 22: Erik Jones, driver of the #77 Sport Clips Toyota, drives through the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 22, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

No. 77 – Furniture Row Racing, Toyota

The current driver of the #77 Furniture Row Racing Toyota, Erik Jones, will not be driving the car beyond the conclusion of the 2017 season, his rookie season. In fact, he is the driver that makes this article possible, as he has been confirmed as the replacement for Matt Kenseth in the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota that Kenseth has driven since the 2013 season.

Kenseth would be a great option for the #77 machine, and this is probably his most likely landing spot if he does, indeed, continue driving beyond the conclusion of this season. Furniture Row Racing has an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth’s current team, and Joe Gibbs Racing team owner Joe Gibbs did state that he “did not want to do this” in regard to letting Kenseth go after this season ends.

More from Matt Kenseth

It is pretty obvious that Kenseth still has what it takes to compete on a high level despite the fact that he has not won a race yet in the 2017 season. He will likely make it to the playoffs this season even if he does not end up winning a race, and that is with very few spots left open.

It would definitely be beneficial if Kenseth does, in a way, stay within the Joe Gibbs Racing organization by driving the #77 machine for Furniture Row Racing in 2018. It would also pair him with the driver of the #78 Toyota, Martin Truex Jr., who is the current championship standings leader, playoff points leader, stage points leader and wins leader as well as the clear frontrunner to win this season’s championship. This team could be even more successful than it already is if the 2003 Cup Series champion comes on board and teams up with Truex Jr., the sport’s current top driver.

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