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Matt Kenseth overcame a spin and avoided the 25-carmeggeddon last-lap crash to win at Talladega on Sunday.
“Clint (Bowyer) and I got together a little bit on the backstretch,” Matt Kenseth said. "I don't know if that was my bad and we weren't exactly all the way clear or what happened there, but that really slowed the group and we got a big lead, which typically isn't good here. I just looked in my mirror and saw them coming at me three-wide. I kind of let Tony (Stewart) have his spot there. It didn't look like he had a big push behind him and lined up with Kevin and we pretty much stayed locked together there until we got to turn three and I thought it was gonna be a drag race to the finish. I didn't know what was gonna happen and I'm still not sure what happened. Somehow I think Tony got turned and caused a big wreck."
The 500-mile race boiled down to a green white-checkered finish. Three-time Sprint Cup Champion, Stewart, broke away from the pack, and was attempting to defend his line. Only Michael Waltrip, who was being pushed by Casey Mears, had a huge head of steam.
Stewart went to block but Waltrip could not slow and the typical Talladega “Big One” erupted as his car went up in the air, rolled over, and became the meat in the sandwich of two or three other cars.
As Stewart explained "I just screwed up. I turned down across, I think it was Michael (Waltrip) and crashed the whole field. It was my fault blocking to try to stay where I was at. So, I take 100% of the blame."I was trying to stay ahead of Matt (Kenseth) and I turned down. It was a mistake on my part it cost a lot of people.”
Kenseth added “There is no safe place. Tony was leading when he got wiped out."
Jeff Gordon who overcame a stuck throttle in the opening Chase race had his second-straight second place finish, but, he was amazed. "That was craziest, craziest finish I've ever been a part of,'' he said adding. “That's what we need to do. lts like a win.”
Kyle Busch, fresh off of his apology to Toyota for complaining, last week, about their motors' fuel economy finished third.
“Got behind Jeff who was behind the 5 (Kahne) who was behind the 15 (Bowyer)” Busch explained. “I was quarter throttle running all over the 24 (Gordon), we just weren't going anywhere. The outside lanes were kind of going by us, and got to turn three and the wreck ensued.”
Brad Keselowski who finished seventh continues to hold the points lead in the Chase by 14-points over Jimmie Johnson who finished 17th. Denny Hamlin, who finished 14th is third 23- points back and Kasey Kahne, who started on the pole and finished 12th, is 36-points behind.
Many of the drivers concurred that this was the craziest finish they've seen at Talladega, but, there was one surprise.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, one of the of the most successful drivers at NASCAR's longest oval, said "that's bloodthirsty. If that's what everybody wants, that's ridiculous."
None of the drivers were injured.
 |
| Matt Kenseth, winner at Talladega. (Photo: NASCAR) |
“Clint (Bowyer) and I got together a little bit on the backstretch,” Matt Kenseth said. "I don't know if that was my bad and we weren't exactly all the way clear or what happened there, but that really slowed the group and we got a big lead, which typically isn't good here. I just looked in my mirror and saw them coming at me three-wide. I kind of let Tony (Stewart) have his spot there. It didn't look like he had a big push behind him and lined up with Kevin and we pretty much stayed locked together there until we got to turn three and I thought it was gonna be a drag race to the finish. I didn't know what was gonna happen and I'm still not sure what happened. Somehow I think Tony got turned and caused a big wreck."
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
The 500-mile race boiled down to a green white-checkered finish. Three-time Sprint Cup Champion, Stewart, broke away from the pack, and was attempting to defend his line. Only Michael Waltrip, who was being pushed by Casey Mears, had a huge head of steam.
Stewart went to block but Waltrip could not slow and the typical Talladega “Big One” erupted as his car went up in the air, rolled over, and became the meat in the sandwich of two or three other cars.
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
As Stewart explained "I just screwed up. I turned down across, I think it was Michael (Waltrip) and crashed the whole field. It was my fault blocking to try to stay where I was at. So, I take 100% of the blame."I was trying to stay ahead of Matt (Kenseth) and I turned down. It was a mistake on my part it cost a lot of people.”
Kenseth added “There is no safe place. Tony was leading when he got wiped out."
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
Jeff Gordon who overcame a stuck throttle in the opening Chase race had his second-straight second place finish, but, he was amazed. "That was craziest, craziest finish I've ever been a part of,'' he said adding. “That's what we need to do. lts like a win.”
Kyle Busch, fresh off of his apology to Toyota for complaining, last week, about their motors' fuel economy finished third.
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
“Got behind Jeff who was behind the 5 (Kahne) who was behind the 15 (Bowyer)” Busch explained. “I was quarter throttle running all over the 24 (Gordon), we just weren't going anywhere. The outside lanes were kind of going by us, and got to turn three and the wreck ensued.”
Brad Keselowski who finished seventh continues to hold the points lead in the Chase by 14-points over Jimmie Johnson who finished 17th. Denny Hamlin, who finished 14th is third 23- points back and Kasey Kahne, who started on the pole and finished 12th, is 36-points behind.
Many of the drivers concurred that this was the craziest finish they've seen at Talladega, but, there was one surprise.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, one of the of the most successful drivers at NASCAR's longest oval, said "that's bloodthirsty. If that's what everybody wants, that's ridiculous."
None of the drivers were injured.