Matt Kenseth focused on making playoffs, not Cup Series future

Matt Kenseth may be facing an uncertain future in the Monster Energy Cup Series but says his immediate priority is qualifying for the playoffs with only three regular-season races remaining.

Joe Gibbs Racing is replacing Kenseth, 45, next season with 21-year-old prospect Erik Jones. That transaction has left Kenseth without a team for 2018, and with the driver free-agency market crowded — Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne are also free agents — there’s a chance the 2003 Cup Series champion may not secure a ride.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m not worried about (2018) even really 1 percent anymore to be honest with you,” Kenseth said Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, site of Saturday night’s race. “I’m just not concerned about it.

“I’m really concerned about 2017 and that’s the truth. … Hopefully, we get a win, get in the playoffs and try to race for a championship. That’s our goal every year and really that’s what I’ve been concentrating on.”

Kenseth is winless through 23 Cup Series races this season, but he holds the final transfer spot among non-winners to earn a berth in the 16-driver playoffs. He leads Clint Bowyer by 31 points entering the Bass Pro Shops/NRA Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC).

Although squarely on the playoff bubble and needing a win to solidify his spot, Kenseth said it’s not influencing his mindset. Every week he still races to win and hasn’t changed his strategy because of his tenuous position where he’d fall below the transfer line if someone lower than him in the standings were to score a season-first win in the next three races .

“I’ve never been in a race I didn’t want to win,” Kenseth said. “I’ve never been in a race where I didn’t feel like I needed the win. I don’t know that it really changes.

“You’re going to race as hard as you can and try to get that win anytime you can. It’s really hard to win races at this level. ... You always try to take advantage of those opportunities if you have them.”