The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Aug
25th
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Matt Kenseth's hopes for a second Sprint Cup title got a boost as he held off a furious charge of Kasey Kahne for the win Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.
By many people's reckoning Kahne had every right to wreck the 2003 champion to take the win away only the duo raced cleanly, if intensely, over the final 12 laps.
Four times this year Kahne had been taken out by one or another Joe Gibbs Racing teammate where Kenseth works.
"Kasey's as good as they get and he's a clean driver," said Kenseth. "He raced as hard as he could -- we ran out of room off (turn) four there. We were both digging as hard as we could to try to get it. I got real tight on them old rights (tires) and had just enough to hold on."
It was the third time this season that Kahne finished behind Kenseth. At the tight .533 mile oval payback is typical, but, not for Kahne.
"I don't know," said Kahne. "I just ... I think at the end of the day, I just don't wreck people."
"I had the better car," Kahne added. "The guys did an awesome job in the pits and I feel bad we didn't win. We needed this; this would have been big for us.
"If I tried to get there, but I probably would have wrecked both of us (and) there would have just been a wreck. I just tried to pass him as clean as I could and race him as hard as I could. We were rubbing all the way down Turn 4 and I just didn't clear him.
"I just didn't get it done and I'm upset with myself for not figuring out how to win tonight."
With a season-leading fifth victory Kenseth takes the virtual points lead going into NASCAR's playoff's called the Chase due to points for wins. Five-time champ, Jimmie Johnson, whose car was wrecked, has four wins.
Juan Pablo Montoya, who was told two weeks ago he wouldn't be returning with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, was third, Brian Vickers finished fourth, followed by Joey Logano, Paul Menard, and Jeff Gordon.
There were a number of accidents, but, the most significant one occurred on lap 451 when Vickers got into the pole winner, Denny Hamlin, collecting eight cars including 2012 Champion Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears and David Stremme.
The race to the Chase battle shuffled again with two races remaining until the points reset.
Logano, who won last week at Michigan, was the biggest winner, climbing to 10th in the standings while Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman each had problems and dropped in points. Keselowski and Busch fell out of the top 10.
With Kahne back in the top 10 in points, Truex and Newman still hold, for now, the two wild-card spots because neither Keselowski, Busch or Jeff Gordon—who are 11th-13th in points—have a win this season. Truex and Newman, 14th and 15th, respectively, have one win each.
By many people's reckoning Kahne had every right to wreck the 2003 champion to take the win away only the duo raced cleanly, if intensely, over the final 12 laps.
Four times this year Kahne had been taken out by one or another Joe Gibbs Racing teammate where Kenseth works.
"Kasey's as good as they get and he's a clean driver," said Kenseth. "He raced as hard as he could -- we ran out of room off (turn) four there. We were both digging as hard as we could to try to get it. I got real tight on them old rights (tires) and had just enough to hold on."
It was the third time this season that Kahne finished behind Kenseth. At the tight .533 mile oval payback is typical, but, not for Kahne.
"I don't know," said Kahne. "I just ... I think at the end of the day, I just don't wreck people."
"I had the better car," Kahne added. "The guys did an awesome job in the pits and I feel bad we didn't win. We needed this; this would have been big for us.
"If I tried to get there, but I probably would have wrecked both of us (and) there would have just been a wreck. I just tried to pass him as clean as I could and race him as hard as I could. We were rubbing all the way down Turn 4 and I just didn't clear him.
"I just didn't get it done and I'm upset with myself for not figuring out how to win tonight."
 |
| Matt Kenseth (Photo: Brian Czboat/autostock USA) |
With a season-leading fifth victory Kenseth takes the virtual points lead going into NASCAR's playoff's called the Chase due to points for wins. Five-time champ, Jimmie Johnson, whose car was wrecked, has four wins.
Juan Pablo Montoya, who was told two weeks ago he wouldn't be returning with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, was third, Brian Vickers finished fourth, followed by Joey Logano, Paul Menard, and Jeff Gordon.
There were a number of accidents, but, the most significant one occurred on lap 451 when Vickers got into the pole winner, Denny Hamlin, collecting eight cars including 2012 Champion Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears and David Stremme.
The race to the Chase battle shuffled again with two races remaining until the points reset.
Logano, who won last week at Michigan, was the biggest winner, climbing to 10th in the standings while Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman each had problems and dropped in points. Keselowski and Busch fell out of the top 10.
With Kahne back in the top 10 in points, Truex and Newman still hold, for now, the two wild-card spots because neither Keselowski, Busch or Jeff Gordon—who are 11th-13th in points—have a win this season. Truex and Newman, 14th and 15th, respectively, have one win each.