Matt Kenseth doesn’t see himself taking over for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 88

One of the more logical replacements for Dale Jr. next season actually doesn’t seem to think he’s a leading candidate.

Though we know Dale Earnhardt Jr. won’t be driving the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet next season, his replacement remains a mystery. Logic suggests that Matt Kenseth, who won’t be back in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2018, would be one of the top names Hendrick might ask.

Except Kenseth doesn’t seem to think so.

In a recent appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Kenseth told Kenny Wallace and Brad Gillie that he didn’t “feel that was going to be an opportunity I’m going to have.” He went on to say that while he had nothing lined up for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, he wasn’t really that worried about it.

You can here all of Kenseth’s comments on his situation here:

Does Kenseth, perhaps, know something the rest of us don’t? Maybe he’s already had discussions with the Hendrick camp and his gut is telling him it’s not going to happen.

Next: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after New Hampshire

Or he could simply be better placed inside the sport to read the tea leaves better than the rest of us. Hendrick could very well be trending younger, so it wouldn’t make much sense to see Earnhardt leave and have an even older driver take his place, as would be the case with Kenseth. William Byron, your time could be closer than you think.

In any case, it’s easy to believe Kenseth when he says that he’s glad his status with regards to his current ride is out in the open for all to see. He’s out, Erik Jones is on his way in, and everyone knows that’s the case for 2018.

Kenseth is still going to be an important part of the Silly Season puzzle, just not its biggest one, apparently.