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Matt Kenseth's bid for a second NASCAR Sprint Cup title looked better after his victory in the rain delayed opening round of the Chase at Chicago Motor Speedway.
Driving a Toyota Kenseth edged teammate Kyle Busch by .749 seconds for his first win at the 1.5 mile oval and a personal best sixth in one season. With some help from a push by Kevin Harvick, on a restart he led from lap 245 to the last lap.
Man, he gave me a big push on that restart, where he could have tried to squeeze it in on the apron, (but he gave) me a big push and go me out front," said Kenseth, "I owe him one for that, for sure."
“I've always wanted to win here in Chicago,” said the 2003 champion. “It's only a couple hours from where I grew up -- up in Wisconsin. So, it feels great to finally get the win here. We've been close a lot.”
Kyle Busch seemed like the driver to beat until that final caution and restart after Kenseth raced out front. He was aiming for a complete sweep of the three race (Trucks, Nationwide and Cup Series). "Oh, yeah, I watched it slip right away," Busch said. "Nothing you can do about it. Certainly, it would be nice if we could have won tonight and brought home a trifecta. I didn't think we had a chance after yesterday's practice. In the race today, the car was totally different. I could drive the heck out of it.
Matt Kenseth had come to Chicago as the top seed in NASCAR's playoffs extended his lead over Kyle Busch to eight points
Kevin Harvick ended up third followed by Busch's older brother Kurt. Jimmie Johnson, who is now third in the points finished fifth and is 11 points out of the lead.
The start of the race was delayed by rain for over an hour. And even once it got going again the race was red flagged for another five hours shortly before the halfway mark which would have made it an official race.
Jimmie Johnson may have had the fastest car in the race, but, shortly after the race resumed for its' conclusion a broken jack caused a lengthy pit stop dropping him back to 22nd. The five-time champion roared through the field to stay in the hunt.
The long delay and cooling from daytime to nighttime conditions may have contributed to engine failures on pole sitter Joey Logano's Ford and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet.
The defending series champion, Brad Keselowski, who did not qualify for the Chase was the highest finishing Ford driver in seventh behind Jeff Gordon, who was added to the playoffs a the 13th driver, finished sixth.
Driving a Toyota Kenseth edged teammate Kyle Busch by .749 seconds for his first win at the 1.5 mile oval and a personal best sixth in one season. With some help from a push by Kevin Harvick, on a restart he led from lap 245 to the last lap.
Man, he gave me a big push on that restart, where he could have tried to squeeze it in on the apron, (but he gave) me a big push and go me out front," said Kenseth, "I owe him one for that, for sure."
“I've always wanted to win here in Chicago,” said the 2003 champion. “It's only a couple hours from where I grew up -- up in Wisconsin. So, it feels great to finally get the win here. We've been close a lot.”
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| Matt Kenseth, winner in Chicago. (Photo: NASCAR) |
Kyle Busch seemed like the driver to beat until that final caution and restart after Kenseth raced out front. He was aiming for a complete sweep of the three race (Trucks, Nationwide and Cup Series). "Oh, yeah, I watched it slip right away," Busch said. "Nothing you can do about it. Certainly, it would be nice if we could have won tonight and brought home a trifecta. I didn't think we had a chance after yesterday's practice. In the race today, the car was totally different. I could drive the heck out of it.
Matt Kenseth had come to Chicago as the top seed in NASCAR's playoffs extended his lead over Kyle Busch to eight points
Kevin Harvick ended up third followed by Busch's older brother Kurt. Jimmie Johnson, who is now third in the points finished fifth and is 11 points out of the lead.
The start of the race was delayed by rain for over an hour. And even once it got going again the race was red flagged for another five hours shortly before the halfway mark which would have made it an official race.
 |
| Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch. (Photo: NASCAR) |
Jimmie Johnson may have had the fastest car in the race, but, shortly after the race resumed for its' conclusion a broken jack caused a lengthy pit stop dropping him back to 22nd. The five-time champion roared through the field to stay in the hunt.
The long delay and cooling from daytime to nighttime conditions may have contributed to engine failures on pole sitter Joey Logano's Ford and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet.
The defending series champion, Brad Keselowski, who did not qualify for the Chase was the highest finishing Ford driver in seventh behind Jeff Gordon, who was added to the playoffs a the 13th driver, finished sixth.
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| Photo: NASCAR |