Matt Kenseth's career is slated to come to an end next weekend, just one week after pulling out an amazing victory at Phoenix. One can only wonder why the driver isn't returning for the 2018 season.
Kenseth opened up recently about his future and why he's decided not to return to the sport, even though he says he could still race and be competitive in doing so. According to the Twitter account of NASCAR writer, Jeff Gluck, it's not that Kenseth wasn't offered a ride for next season, but he wasn't offered a top tier ride.
"I mean it's not that there hasn't been any opportunities and nothing opened, it's just nothing really felt right to me," Kenseth said.
"Throughout my career and my life really, kind of there's certain things that you know is right and things line up and it's just kind of easy, and then there's things you can fight, and at the end of the day, it just wasn't the right thing," he said. "If anything it just reaffirms my decision to step away next year."
From JeffGluck Twitter
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When asked if it took a while for him to come to terms with the fact that he could still win races and compete for a championship, as he seems to have come to peace with it as of late, Kenseth responded:
"Well, I really feel like I have a few years left, I really do," said Kenseth. "I feel like I can win races and run for championships."
"But with that being said, you have to have the supporting cast," he said. "You've got to have the cars, you've got to have the team, you've got to have the sponsorship."
"You've got to have the manufacturer and I got all that where I'm at right now, and there's not an opportunity to continue to race here," Kenseth said.
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While it might not be what he ultimately wanted, it definitely seems that Kenseth is standing behind his decision and is at peace with it. But it's the end of the 2017 season, who knows what will happen in 2018.