Matt Kenseth entered the 2009 season with a lot of uncertainty. For the second time in as many seasons, he would have a new crew chief as Drew Blickensderfer took control of the No. 17 operation, replacing Chip Bolin. To say the team put their best foot forward to start the season would be an understatement.

Kenseth became a Daytona 500 champion thanks to a rain-shortened victory in the season's first race. He then backed it up with a win the next week at Fontana, this one in dominating fashion leading 84 of the 250 laps.

For much of 2009, Kenseth had good cars, just not cars capable of winning. He would lead a handful of laps here and there, but when the race concluded, the No. 17 was usually outside the top 10.

As the series shifted to Las Vegas, Kenseth found himself with an 81-point lead and looking like the driver to beat for the championship. The ride was short lived as Kenseth finished 43rd at Las Vegas after blowing his engine six laps into the race. The finish dropped Kenseth from the points lead and he wouldn't get as close again.

For much of 2009, Kenseth had good cars, just not cars capable of winning. He would lead a handful of laps here and there, but when the race concluded, the No. 17 was usually outside the top 10.

Despite the mediocre season, as the series headed to Richmond -- the final race before the Chase -- Kenseth sat 12th in points and looked to continue his Chase streak. The No. 17 rolled off 28th at RIR and Kenseth struggled with handling all night leading to a 25th-place finish that dropped Kenseth from 12th to 14th in points and out of the Chase field.

With '09 a loss, the team moved forward, shifting its focus on 2010. If the results are any indication, Kenseth could return to championship form. Three of his seven top-fives this season came in the final 10 races giving Kenseth two wins, seven top-fives, 12 top-10s, and an average finish of 15.4 in '09. Kenseth also added to his family, with the birth of his daughter, Kailyn, in July.

Didn't get much better than this

One thing missing on Kenseth's resume was a Daytona 500 win and after a crash in his Duel, Kenseth was stuck in the rear of the field and more importantly, in a backup car. It took 146 laps for the No. 17 to find the front, but it came at the perfect time. With rain approaching, Kenseth found himself out front and six laps later the caution came out due to the weather. A few minutes later, the race was called and Kenseth became a Daytona 500 champion.

The disappointment still lingers

On the first lap of the Shelby 427 in Las Vegas, Kenseth radioed in that he thought his engine was going to blow. On Lap 3, he came into the pits as the crew looked things over, found nothing wrong and sent him back on the track. On Lap 6, white smoke was pouring out the rear of the No. 17 and just like that, Kenseth's race was over.

Not only did Kenseth miss out on history as the first driver to win the first three races, but his 81-point lead evaporated and he would finish outside the top 10 in seven of his next eight races, losing any momentum gained after the first two victories.