Cross' Words: Calif.

Can you identify this driver (all stats entering 2007)?

From 2000-2006 had a top-10 ranking in:

• Send Duane your thoughts

• Starts (250)
• Wins (14)
• Second-place finishes (12)
• Top-five finishes (65)
• Top-10 finishes (118)
• Laps (series high 71,522)
• Laps led (3,918)
• Running at finish (224)
• Lead-lap finishes (168)
• Average finish (14.8)

and ...

From 2000-2006 hadn't qualified worth a flip:

• Average start -- 20.7
• Only three poles in 250 starts

The driver? Matt Kenseth.

Kenseth's victory at California was his 15th in the Cup Series, and his 12th from a starting position of 17th or worse. He started 25th on Sunday. Kenseth has won once from the pole (Aug. 27, 2005, at Bristol) but his average starting position in his wins is 19.8.

He also completed the weekend sweep at Fontana -- with a twist.

Kenseth led 48 laps on Saturday night to win the Busch Series race, his fourth victory at the track, and the first checkered flag for crew chief Drew Blickensderfer.

On Sunday, Kenseth led 133 laps for his second Cup Series win at California. It also was the first win for interim crew chief Chip Bolin, who is subbing for Robbie Reiser during his four-race suspension.

Wonder if Chip has a spot picked out above the mantle for the trophy? Seeing as he's moving into his new home this weekend, maybe he can decorate the living room around the hardware ...

Random rumination after the West Coast Premiere of NASCAR:

• Is there a cheesier slogan for a race than that?

• Only in NASCAR: Sunoco, the official fuel of NASCAR, calls into question the size of the logo of a competitor. Can we leave the measuring sticks to the inspection bay?

• Brian Vickers will be the answer to a trivia question: Who was the first Toyota driver to post a top-10 finish in a Cup Series race? (And sorry for catching you off guard at the Olive Garden in Daytona; just wanted to say thanks.)

• Two races. Two red flags. Not the 1.000 batting average you want ...

• Nice pre-race concert; Sammy Hagar can't drive 55. ... Neither can Michael Waltrip.

• Welcome back, John Andretti.

• Mark Martin, point standings leader. Been a while: Sept. 22, 2002, after Dover.

• There may be something to this Loop Data. Everything pointed toward Roush Racing, and whaddya know Kenseth won.

• RCR is making itself a player in the Dale Earnhardt Jr. contract talks, especially in light of back-to-back weeks of poor engine performance by DEI. ... Maybe Goodwrench has a plan. We already know there's a number available. (Continued)