By the Numbers: NHMS

Kenseth tries to keep magic six-week stretch rolling

By Josh Pate, NASCAR.COM
June 26, 2008
10:55 AM EDT

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Two months ago, some had already written off Matt Kenseth as a Chase contender. He was 22nd in points and trailed standings leader Kyle Busch by 537 points. He had just finished 38th at Richmond, his third consecutive finish of 38th or worse.

In that three-race span, Kenseth scored 138 points combined.

The six races since then have been a different story for the 2003 Cup Series champion. Dating back to Darlington, he has finished no worse than eighth in a race and has led laps in all but one of those events (Sonoma).

In that six-race span, Kenseth scored more than 142 points in every single race.

He still doesn't have a victory this season, but his quick turnaround has been a better overall production during that six-race stretch than the man who leads the series in victories.

913Points that Kyle Busch has scored in the last six races, during which he has remained the points leader while also winning three races.

934Points that Matt Kenseth has gained in the last six races, moving him from 22nd in the standings to 12th. Each of those races resulted in a top-10 finish, with his average finish during that span being 5.83.

Matt Kenseth

Point production last six races

Race	Leader	Points	Kenseth Rank	Behind

Darlington	Kyle Busch	1690	20th	-577
Charlotte	Kyle Busch	1860	16th	-596
Dover	Kyle Busch	2050	16th	-621
Pocono	Kyle Busch	2084	15th	-504
Michigan	Kyle Busch	2213	14th	-463
Sonoma	Kyle Busch	2408	12th	-516

Back in Time

Sept. 17, 2000Jeff Burton wins the Dura Lube 300 by leading all 300 laps, the only race in which restrictor plates were used at New Hampshire. He beat Bobby Labonte as the race finished under caution. Ironically, Labonte started from the pole and Burton started second.

10 Key Facts

1Race at New Hampshire (fall 2006) that Ryan Newman has not led a lap during his career. Newman has two victories (fall 2002 and fall 2005) and a series-high four poles at the track.

2Finishing position for Jeff Gordon in both New Hampshire races last season, won by Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer.

4Drivers who have competed in all 26 Cup races held at New Hampshire: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Joe Nemechek.

4Victories at New Hampshire for Jeff Burton, a series-best, although all of them came with his former team, Roush Fenway Racing, prior to 2001.

4Races at New Hampshire that have been won from the pole, two of which have come in the last three races at the track.

9.6Average Running Position for Kyle Busch at New Hampshire, a series-best. He has one victory (spring 2006) and three top-fives in six starts.

12Races at New Hampshire in which the driver who led the most laps won the race, including three of the last four races. Dale Earnhardt Jr. led a race-high 64 laps in this race a year ago, but Denny Hamlin won (46 laps led).

22.3Average finish for Clint Bowyer in his four New Hampshire starts, the worst among the top 12 drivers in the standings. Denny Hamlin's 6.5 average finish is the best among that group.

243Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at New Hampshire, the most by a driver entered in Sunday's race who has not won at the track. Jeff Gordon's 1,141 laps led are more than any active driver.

764Points scored by Jeff Gordon in the last five New Hampshire races, more than any other driver. Gordon, who has three victories at the track, has not won there in 18 races.

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New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Active drivers based on victories

Driver	Start	Wins	Top-5	Top-10

Jeff Burton	26	4	7	12
Jeff Gordon	26	3	12	15
Ryan Newman	12	2	5	9
Tony Stewart	18	2	10	11
Jimmie Johnson	12	2	3	7
Kurt Busch	14	2	4	5
Denny Hamlin	4	1	2	3
Kevin Harvick	14	1	3	8
Joe Nemechek	26	1	3	5
Robby Gordon	16	1	2	3
Kyle Busch	6	1	3	3
Clint Bowyer	4	1	1	1