The Associated Press
LOUDON, N.H.—Matt Kenseth always was near the front of the pack.
He stalked the leaders and waited for contenders to wilt.
Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. faded down the stretch. So did Denny Hamlin.
It almost seemed like a repeat scenario for Kenseth.
Just like last fall on the same track, when Kevin Harvick’s lead evaporated when he ran out of fuel, Kenseth pounced.
He pulled away down the stretch to win the Sprint Cup race yesterday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Truex and Busch each led more than 120 laps before faltering over the final 75, paving the way for Kenseth to win for the second time this season.
Kenseth, who also won the New Hampshire race last September, now has 38th career victories.
“Last fall, we squeaked one out, a little more fuel than Kevin and a little different strategy, but not quite as good a car,” Kenseth recalled.
“Today I felt like we had the best car.”
NASCAR later said Kenseth’s No. 20 Toyota failed the post-race laser inspection station and will be brought to the research and development centre in Concord, N.C. for more evaluation.
The penalty for that kind of failure traditionally has been a 15-point penalty. But this was the first time a race winner was busted since the lasers were instituted in 2013.
Tony Stewart finished second yesterday and strengthened his spot inside the top 30 in the points standings.
Stewart has a win this season and needs to secure a spot in the top 30 in points to clinch a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
He inched from 30th to 28th in points.
Joey Logano was third, followed by Harvick and Greg Biffle.
Alex Bowman had a solid day ruined when he hit the wall late and finished 26th driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt was sidelined because he suffered from symptoms of a concussion.
Truex, meanwhile, tumbled to 16th when his Toyota suffered a broken shifter and Busch dropped to eighth when he never could break free on late-race restarts.
“We’re doing everything right but we’re taking some on the chin here,” Truex said.
Team owner Rick Hendrick does not think the concussion symptoms that sidelined Earnhardt are career threatening.
He hoped to have NASCAR’s most popular driver back in the car next week at the Brickyard.
Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will come out of retirement and drive the 88 this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway if Earnhardt does not return.
