Kenseth has what Gordon wants: A win at Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas -- In 2002, Kenseth went from worst to first at Texas Motor Speedway.

	For Matt Kenseth, these boots were made for winning. Credit: Autostock

Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon, who finished second last year, is still seeking his first win at the 1.5-mile track.

This duo enters Sunday's Samsung/RadioShack 500 separated by 241 points in the Winston Cup title chase.

Kenseth has led the standings for three weeks, while Gordon is still trying to pull himself out of an early-season slump that has seen him out of the top 10 in four of the first six races.

Even so, Gordon is still 10th in points -- exactly where he was this time a year ago.

Texas is one of four active tracks that has eluded Gordon's winning ways.

"We want to win every race, but I think the team puts a little extra emphasis on those four tracks," Gordon said. "I think they want to prove to themselves that the track hasn't got the best of them."

Meanwhile, Kenseth enters Texas with as much confidence as anyone. He's averaged slightly better than a fourth-place finish in the past five races.

	Credit: Autostock

And he enters as the defending race winner: He won in 2002 despite starting last in the field, courtesy an engine change before the event.

Kenseth's win in 2002 was all the more remarkable because it was the first time someone had won at Texas from deep in the field.

The track held its Winston Cup inaugural in 1997, and in the five races from 1997-2001, the winner had always started in the top 10.

Passing at Texas was not a problem for Kenseth in 2002, and he does not expect that to change much.

"Every year the track gets older, the groove should move up higher," Kenseth said. "If it does not rain, it will help because it will keep the rubber on the track."

	Credit: Autostock

Gordon agrees.

"Last year, we started to see the beginning of a second groove develop," he said. "I'm eager to see what it will be like this time and the years ahead."

Bill Elliott set the track qualifying record in 2002 with a lap of 194.224 mph -- the quickest lap of 2002, restricted or unrestricted.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won here in 2000, sums the speed of the 24-degree banking best: "It takes some guts to get around there."