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Matt Kenseth established himself as the team leader of Joe Gibbs Racing with a convincing win at the Southern 500 at Darlington.
The 2003 Sprint Cup champion passed teammate, Kyle Busch, who led a race-high 265 laps with 13 laps to go for his third win of the year. Denny Hamlin, another teammate, finished second in his first full race following the back injury he suffered in February.
"He's a good leader," Gibbs said. "Denny and Kyle really like having him there and hearing what he has to say. And on the track, he's got a gift."
Busch seemed to have the race in hand but it turned out to be a slow leak in his right rear tire which ended what appeared to be an unbeatable run.
It's been a roller coaster of emotions for Kenseth, who joined JGR, at the beginning of the year. He's been capable of winning almost every race. He had an engine problem at Daytona. Then, when he won at Kansas, NASCAR found a connecting rod that was underweight.
After the severest penalties NASCAR has levied his team got those penalties reduced on appeal this week. But Kenseth still lost his new crew chief, Jason Ratcliff, for this race.
It's no wonder Kenseth was elated with the win on Saturday night. "I don't know that I've had a win that feels bigger than this," said Kenseth who has two Daytona 500 victories to his credit. To be able to win a race at a track like this, especially the Southern 500, man, it's big.
In my mind, it's one of the biggest races we have of the year really. It's just a special place to win at."
Kyle Busch who ended up 14th had no post-race comments. "Yeah, he definitely won't be happy, that's for sure," Hamlin said. "But it's tough when you have a car that was as dominant as his, then the last run, whatever happens happens."
As for his second place run "this is a tough, gruelling race," added Hamlin."Nothing to hang our heads about coming up second for second year in a row.
Jeff Gordon finished third in a Chevrolet his 700th consecutive Sprint Cup race.
Busch's only other serious competition came from Gordon's teammate Kasey Kahne who appeared to have passed him for the lead with around 50 laps remaining at the egg-shaped 1.366 mile track.
Only they made slight contact with 35 laps to go, Kahne lost control and hit the wall ending up 17th.
"Three times this year me and Kyle had contact and I had a chance, capable-winning cars, it's disappointing on the points side and not winning some of these races," Kahne said.
"Whether he hit me or just blew the air off, whatever it was, he blew his entry. I'm not sure what he was thinking on that."
The 2003 Sprint Cup champion passed teammate, Kyle Busch, who led a race-high 265 laps with 13 laps to go for his third win of the year. Denny Hamlin, another teammate, finished second in his first full race following the back injury he suffered in February.
"He's a good leader," Gibbs said. "Denny and Kyle really like having him there and hearing what he has to say. And on the track, he's got a gift."
Busch seemed to have the race in hand but it turned out to be a slow leak in his right rear tire which ended what appeared to be an unbeatable run.
It's been a roller coaster of emotions for Kenseth, who joined JGR, at the beginning of the year. He's been capable of winning almost every race. He had an engine problem at Daytona. Then, when he won at Kansas, NASCAR found a connecting rod that was underweight.
After the severest penalties NASCAR has levied his team got those penalties reduced on appeal this week. But Kenseth still lost his new crew chief, Jason Ratcliff, for this race.
It's no wonder Kenseth was elated with the win on Saturday night. "I don't know that I've had a win that feels bigger than this," said Kenseth who has two Daytona 500 victories to his credit. To be able to win a race at a track like this, especially the Southern 500, man, it's big.
In my mind, it's one of the biggest races we have of the year really. It's just a special place to win at."
Kyle Busch who ended up 14th had no post-race comments. "Yeah, he definitely won't be happy, that's for sure," Hamlin said. "But it's tough when you have a car that was as dominant as his, then the last run, whatever happens happens."
As for his second place run "this is a tough, gruelling race," added Hamlin."Nothing to hang our heads about coming up second for second year in a row.
Jeff Gordon finished third in a Chevrolet his 700th consecutive Sprint Cup race.
Busch's only other serious competition came from Gordon's teammate Kasey Kahne who appeared to have passed him for the lead with around 50 laps remaining at the egg-shaped 1.366 mile track.
Only they made slight contact with 35 laps to go, Kahne lost control and hit the wall ending up 17th.
"Three times this year me and Kyle had contact and I had a chance, capable-winning cars, it's disappointing on the points side and not winning some of these races," Kahne said.
"Whether he hit me or just blew the air off, whatever it was, he blew his entry. I'm not sure what he was thinking on that."