Matt Kenseth passed the fuel-starved car of Kevin Harvick with two laps to go, and went on to win Sunday’s at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The victory – his fifth of the year – sends the Joe Gibbs Racing driver to the second round of the playoffs which begins in two weeks.
The victory actually put a grin on Kenseth’s face.
“We had to be there to win,” the Wisconsin native said. “These Dollar General guys did a great job today. We didn’t pit that one time and I was like, ‘Ahhh,’ and Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) was like, ‘It’s fine, relax.’ We made it to the front faster than we thought. I was giving it everything I’ve got and I thought he (Kevin Harvick) was going to beat us and he had a better car today, but I guess he was a little short on fuel. This is unbelievable. This feels unbelievable.”
Asked about the JGR roll, Kenseth said he hope it continues for another eight weeks.
“The thing about rolls and momentum,” Kenseth said, “it can stop at any given moment so you have to enjoy it while it’s here. I’ve been enjoying driving this 20 car and working for Coach (Gibbs, team owner) and Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) and this whole group. It’s been awesome and I think we still have some more coming. It feels good.”
Harvick, who dominated the race in terms of laps led – 216 – finds his hopes of repeating as Cup champion reduced to wafer thing as his 21st-place finish come after he crashed and finished 42nd in the Chase openner at Chicagoland Speedway last week.
Harvick’s best chance to make The Chase is to win next weekend at Dover to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
The Moster Mile is normally a very action packed race, but in light of a couple of key drivers being on the cusp of elimination, the anxiety level, the tension, and the pressure will ratchet up the competition level next week at Dover!
Check out the unofficial results of the Sylvania 300 at Louden.
Sixteen drivers, eight races, and one championship, who will be the last man standing?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
