NASCAR Matt Kenseth

341 posts

Bowyer Picks Up Stage Win with Contrarian Strategy

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Clint Bowyer, the driver of the #14 Nature’s Bakery/Feeding America Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 30, 2017, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

When every car running ahead of Clint Bowyer came to pit road on lap 96 – in a group that included race winner Kyle Busch, runner-up Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Chase Elliott, Bowyer inherited the lead.

Four laps later, Bowyer collected his first stage win and first playoff point of the season.

But that wasn’t the highlight of Bowyer’s day. Forced to pit under caution at the end of the stage, Bowyer restarted 11th and never advanced higher than fifth during the final 60 laps of the race. He finished sixth after Brad Keselowski passed him for the fifth position in the closing laps.

Bowyer, who is fighting for a spot in NASCAR’s playoff, was pleased with the speed in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

“It was a big pit strategy day, for sure, and you know that going into a race like this,” Bowyer said. “Our car was good all weekend. We unloaded a fast car. This is the best car that we’ve unloaded in quite some time.

“A little bit different build. Hopefully, this is what we’re looking for, what I’m looking for and (we can) build on this.”

Kyle Busch Breaks 36-Race Winless Drought with Pocono Victory

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News

Barely more than three hours after the Pocono crowd greeted Kyle Busch with a chorus of boos during driver introductions, Kyle Busch made converts of the fans in the grandstands – at least a large portion of them – with a spectacular burnout after his long-awaited victory in the Overton’s 400. Continue reading →

Dale Earnhardt Jr Attempts to Secure Playoff Spot at Pocono

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Track News
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 30, 2017, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Kasey Kahne proved at Indy that all hope is not lost for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers who are low in the point standings. Without even a top-15 finish to show in his previous eight races, Kahne battled his way to a win at the Brickyard and earned the automatic playoff berth that comes with one.

Sitting 22nd in the point standings – 213 points below Matt Kenseth on the cutoff line – Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s playoff hopes seem bleak at first glance. When looking at the upcoming schedule, Earnhardt and his massive fan base should have at least a glimmer of hope he can make the postseason in his last full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series campaign. The No. 88 Chevrolet driver claims a combined eight wins at the remaining six tracks on the regular season docket, including two at Pocono Raceway – the site of Sunday’s Overton’s 400. Continue reading →

Trevor Bayne Comes Tantalizingly Close to Victory

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Trevor Bayne, the driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, is introduced prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Roush Fenway Racing driver Trevor Bayne had a realistic chance to win for the first time since his stunning triumph in the 2011 Daytona 500.

With 11 laps left in Sunday’s Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400, Bayne was running third behind Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson, but those two drivers were running short on fuel, and pit stops were imminent. Continue reading →