Matt Kenseth is 63 points behind Jimmie Johnson in the Nextel Cup standings. Credit: Autostock

Big changes make big impact for Kenseth in HH

Dreadful second practice gives way to quick final practice

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Matt Kenseth may not have a shot to wrestle the Nextel Cup championship by force, but at the very least, he appears to have a car capable of capitalizing on a Johnson mistake.

During Saturday's first practice, Kenseth wasn't so sure. His car simply wasn't very good, and his times showed, as he was only 33rd-quickest.

Happy Hour Speeds Ford 400 Pos. Driver Time Speed 1. J. Burton 31.229 172.916 2. R. Newman 31.322 172.403 3. K. Kahne 31.430 171.810 4. M. Martin 31.450 171.701 5. M. Kenseth 31.464 171.625 • Complete speeds, click here • 2nd practice speeds, click here Chase for the Nextel Cup Next: Homestead (Season finale) Pos. +/- Driver Behind 1. -- J. Johnson Leader 2. -- M. Kenseth -63 3. +2 K. Harvick -90 4. -- D. Hamlin -90 5. -2 Earnhardt Jr. -115 6. -- J. Gordon -167 7. -- J. Burton -225 8. +1 M. Martin -273 9. +1 K. Kahne -319 10. -2 Ky. Busch -359 • Complete standings, click here SUPERSTORE •   2006 Chase merchandise!

Crew chief Robbie Reiser made big changes to the car during the break between the second practice and Happy Hour, and the car responded, as Kenseth was fifth-best in the season's final practice session.

Kenseth wouldn't say what the team changed to make the car drive better.

"I can't tell you that," Kenseth said, grinning.

"A couple of little things, just some engineering stuff," Roush Racing teammate Carl Edwards said.

Edwards said that the entire organization has focused on eliminating its problems on high-banked tracks like Homestead.

"We have all taken stock and said 'Hey, we have got to change some stuff,'" Edwards said. "Matt was very vocal about it and he did a good job of explaining it."

Kenseth's last two races on 1.5-milers have been testing. He drove a viciously loose car to as disappointing 23rd-place finish at Kansas, and he wasn't much better at Texas, finishing 12th.

"We got it to drive a little better and we got it to be a lot faster, which is a good thing," Kenseth said. "We got the times to be a lot better so if we can make it a little better for the long run, we will be all right."

Kenseth heads into Sunday's Ford 400 facing a 63-point deficit on leader Jimmie Johnson. Johnson has to finish just 12th or better to clinch the championship, no matter what anyone else does.

Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet has been fast all weekend. He was in the top 10 for both practice sessions on Saturday, and he didn't even run the final few minutes of Happy Hour. By contrast, Kenseth was on the track when the red flag came out.

Saturday's two practices were run in sunny, warm conditions -- the same conditions expected for Sunday.

Despite the warm asphalt, Homestead-Miami's surface isn't chewing tires at a rapid rate, and Kenseth said that strength over a long green-flag periods will be the key.

"I always try to set up for a long haul, because if you're good for 10 laps, it really doesn't do any good," Kenseth said. "Tires really don't wear out, so any track that the tire don't wear out, you have to be good on the long run."