April 24, 2024

Kenseth stretches his fuel, steals a victory at Pocono

By DAN GELSTON

Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Windows 10 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday in Long Pond, Penn. (NASCAR photo)

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Matt Kenseth stretched his fuel and zipped past the fading leaders in the final thrilling laps Sunday to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

The 400-mile race came down to fuel and which cars had it — and which ones didn’t. Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. were all inside the top five in the final five laps when they ran out of fuel.

Busch failed in his bid to become the ninth driver since 1972 and the first since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win four straight Cup races.

Kenseth won for the first time at Pocono. With Busch’s recent dominance, Kenseth made it five wins in the last six races for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Brad Keselowski was second, followed by Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle.

Logano was 11th, Truex was 20th and Busch 21st. Busch remained outside the top 30 in points, the second marker he needs to hit to qualify for the Chase.

Busch had won three straight Cup races and four of five, swept the Xfinity and Cup races last weekend at Indianapolis and won the Truck Series event Saturday at Pocono.

“I wish I had saved a little more,” Busch said. “I wish I had known (Logano) was that far from making it. It’s a shame we couldn’t get it done.”

With a win, Busch would have had the points needed to at least crack the top 30, though he’d have to stay there for the final five races before the 16-driver field is set for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Kenseth had the only position that mattered, winning for the first time this season since Bristol and for the first time ever at Pocono.

“I never thought I’d win at Pocono,” he said.

Kenseth won the fuel gamble and survived a race that resembled a demolition derby: Cars, crews, walls, equipment, all took beatings over 400 miles.

Kasey Kahne kicked off a race stuffed with wreckage when he got loose, found the opening to pit road and slammed the pit road wall. Kahne’s hit buckled the wall, sent helmets flying and crew members scurrying for safety.

“I saw the people and I thought to myself that those guys need to take off running and get out of the way,” Kahne said.