Joe Gibbs Racing to Replace Matt Kenseth With Erik Jones

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Matt Kenseth is out at Joe Gibbs Racing, which will replace the oldest fulltime driver in NASCAR's top series with rising star Erik Jones next season.

Kenseth is 45. Jones turned 21 in May.

The Jones promotion is part of a changing of the guard in NASCAR, which is seeing middle-aged drivers being replaced by future stars.

Kenseth is a stalwart in the series and a star for Toyota, which partnered with Kenseth when he joined Gibbs in 2013. He is 11th in the standings and in his 18th Cup season. He said last weekend there was no opportunity for him to return to Gibbs .

Jones is a Gibbs development driver and on a one-year loan to Furniture Row Racing. He's 14th in the Cup standings.