{"id":4636,"date":"2016-07-17T23:35:36","date_gmt":"2016-07-18T04:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=4636"},"modified":"2016-07-20T19:07:09","modified_gmt":"2016-07-21T00:07:09","slug":"matt-kenseth-battles-to-front-for-win-at-new-hampshire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2016\/07\/17\/matt-kenseth-battles-to-front-for-win-at-new-hampshire\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Kenseth battles to front for win at New Hampshire"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer<\/b><\/span>
\nNASCAR Wire Service<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

LOUDON, N.H. \u2013<\/span><\/strong> In a race that saw many of the usual suspects go into hiding in the closing laps, Matt Kenseth<\/strong> battled to the front of the field from the 18th starting position and pulled away after a late restart to win Sunday\u2019s New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Matt

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Winning for the second time this season and for the third time at the Magic Mile, Kenseth crossed the finish line 1.982 seconds ahead of Tony Stewart, who solidified his position in the top 30 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series<\/a> standings \u2013 and therefore in the Chase \u2013 with the runner-up finish.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019re always pleased to be in Victory Lane,” said the 44-year-old Kenseth, who won for the second straight time at the 1.058-mile flat track and for the 38th time in his career. “The farther down the road you get, the better they feel for sure. Thanks to everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing \u2013 I\u2019ve said it a million times, but I\u2019m blessed with this opportunity to be over here with the guys I get to work with.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“(Crew chief) Jason (Ratcliff) and the team made great, great adjustments today. I didn\u2019t do a very good job qualifying (18th), (but) after round one (of pit stops) today, it was pretty much money. We just had to get there. It was a fun day.”<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Matt

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Kenseth, who recovered from an early glitch on pit road after his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was blocked in its stall, took the lead from Kyle Busch on Lap 271 of 301 and held it the rest of the way, despite three subsequent cautions and restarts.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“Every restart you\u2019re just hoping not to mess up and spin the tires too bad,” Kenseth said. “Thankfully, we had good ones, and we had great power, and we had good traction, and we were able to get going pretty good in a straight line.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“And then, after a couple laps, we were able to roll the middle and get away.”<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Joey Logano took third place by .019 seconds in a drag race against Kevin Harvick. Greg Biffle ran fifth followed by Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

That cast of characters didn\u2019t include Martin Truex Jr., who led 123 laps before breaking his shifter and losing the clutch, keeping his No. 78 Toyota stuck in fourth gear.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Matt

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, places the winner’s decal on his car with the help of his daughters Clara, Kaylin and Grace after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It didn\u2019t include pole winner Jimmie Johnson, who repeatedly lost ground on restarts and came home 12th. It didn\u2019t include Kurt Busch, who ran in the top five most of the afternoon but ultimately was knocked out by contact from the No. 88 Chevrolet of Alex Bowman, who finished 26th in a substitute role for ailing Dale Earnhardt Jr.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t include 2014 New Hampshire winner Brad Keselowski, who, like Kurt Busch, had a contending car for most of the day but cut a tire in a late four-car wreck that caused his two-race winning streak end in a 15th-place finish. It didn\u2019t include Carl Edwards, whose No. 19 Toyota was damaged in the four-car Lap 285 chain-reaction wreck that caused the seventh and final caution.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

And even though Kyle Busch held eighth place in the late going, his finish was disappointing. Busch led a race-high 133 laps and restarted third with 11 laps left, but lost ground in a fight for fifth with Biffle and dropped two more spots thereafter.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Stewart, however, was delighted with the effort of his team. He and first-year crew chief Mike Bugarewicz exchanged texts dealing with setup notes on Saturday night, after Stewart flew to Ohio to oversee the Kings Royal sprint car race at Eldora Speedway, which he owns.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Jimmie

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Todd Warshaw\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

When he returned to Loudon for Sunday\u2019s race, his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet was markedly better than it had been in Saturday\u2019s two practice sessions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Yeah, we had a much better Haas Automation Chevy today than what we had yesterday,” said Stewart, who is now 67 points ahead of 31st-place Brian Scott. “Buga (Bugarewicz) did a really good job. I went off and went to Eldora for the Kings Royal last night.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“He kept sending me a couple of texts. He was working as late here as I was working late at Eldora. It really paid off. He\u2019s doing such a great job for a rookie crew chief that only has half a season. He\u2019s got veteran calls and veteran moves.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Getting his opportunity to drive the No. 88 Chevy when Earnhardt was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, Bowman had a top-10 run going until contact with Edwards\u2019 Toyota on pit road started tire issues that culminated in Bowman sliding into Kurt Busch\u2019s car in Turn 3 on Lap 271.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The right front tire went completely flat on the frontstretch, sending Bowman into the outside wall. Though the accident knocked the speed out of the car, Bowman was able to stay on the lead lap.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Martin

Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #78 Furniture Row Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Moore\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The spate of late cautions also gave Logano a chance to move forward.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll take a third place after all that,” Logano said. “We were awful at the beginning of the race. We tried some new things, and apparently they didn\u2019t work, so we aborted the mission in the middle of the race and got some speed back in the 22 \u2013 but not enough to beat the 20.”<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: \u00a0Additional photos posted below race results.<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race – New Hampshire 301<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

New Hampshire Motor Speedway<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Loudon, New Hampshire<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Sunday, July 17, 2016<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1. (18) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2. (12) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3. (6) Joey Logano, Ford, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4. (8) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5. (28) Greg Biffle, Ford, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6. (19) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7. (25) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8. (2) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9. (5) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10. (22) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11. (14) * Ryan Blaney #, Ford, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12. (1) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13. (15) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 14. (29) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15. (9) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16. (3) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17. (17) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 18. (24) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 19. (26) Aric Almirola, Ford, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20. (13) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 21. (10) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 22. (4) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 23. (31) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24. (32) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25. (11) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26. (20) Alex Bowman(i), Chevrolet, 301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 27. (21) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 300.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 28. (30) Landon Cassill, Ford, 299.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29. (35) Chris Buescher #, Ford, 299.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30. (23) David Ragan, Toyota, 299.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31. (16) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 299.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32. (34) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 297.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 33. (37) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 295.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 34. (7) Chase Elliott #, Chevrolet, 294.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 35. (36) * Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 294.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 36. (38) Eddie MacDonald, Ford, 293.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 37. (40) * Ryan Ellis(i), Chevrolet, 292.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 38. (33) Brian Scott #, Ford, 278.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 39. (27) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, Electrical, 191.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 40. (39) * Josh Wise, Chevrolet, Accident, 94.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:\u00a0 107.416 mph.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Time of Race:\u00a0 02 Hrs, 57 Mins, 53 Secs. Margin of Victory:\u00a0 1.982 Seconds.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Caution Flags:\u00a0 7 for 36 laps.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lead Changes:\u00a0 13 among 6 drivers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:\u00a0\u00a0 J. Johnson 1; Kyle Busch 2-36; M. Truex Jr 37; Kyle Busch 38-88; M. Truex Jr 89-171; Kyle Busch 172-182; M. Truex Jr 183; B. Keselowski 184; Kyle Busch 185-220; M. Truex Jr 221-257; M. Kenseth 258-264; M. Truex Jr 265; D. Hamlin 266-270; M. Kenseth 271-301.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):\u00a0 Kyle Busch 4 times for 133 laps; M. Truex Jr 5 times for 123 laps; M. Kenseth 2 times for 38 laps; D. Hamlin 1 time for 5 laps; B. Keselowski 1 time for 1 lap; J. Johnson 1 time for 1 lap.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Top 16 in Points: K. Harvick – 636; B. Keselowski – 622; Kurt Busch – 602; C. Edwards – 587; J. Logano – 571; Kyle Busch – 556; M. Truex Jr – 540; M. Kenseth – 521; J. Johnson – 514; D. Hamlin – 505; C. Elliott # – 499; R. Newman – 497; A. Dillon – 488; J. Mcmurray – 474; D. Earnhardt Jr. – 461; T. Bayne – 447.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"LOUDON,

LOUDON, NH – JULY 17: Cars pit during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Jimmie

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Moore\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Kyle

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Todd Warshaw\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Brad

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Todd Warshaw\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Chase

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alex

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Matt

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Todd Warshaw\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Matt

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service LOUDON, N.H. \u2013 In a race that saw many of the usual suspects go into hiding in the closing laps, Matt Kenseth battled to the front of the field from the 18th starting position and pulled away after a late restart to win Sunday\u2019s New Hampshire 301 at New […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4650,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[224,16],"class_list":["post-4636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-matt-kenseth","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/NHMS_NSCS_VL_071716.jpg?fit=4795%2C3196","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-1cM","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4636"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4652,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4636\/revisions\/4652"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}