More often that not, such circumstances are insurmountable.

But with uncanny pit strategy and an unparalleled rocket ship, he made up all lost ground and then some, fighting all the way back to claim his series-high fourth victory of the 2002 campaign.

Kenseth took the lead for the final time on lap 293, when he passed pole-sitter Ryan Newman in Turn 2, then checked out, building more than a two-second lead en route to career win number five.

"That car was so fast we just kept getting blown right front tires," Kenseth said. "It was such a fast car, really fast. It's brand new. We got down, but tried to pit with the leaders after that. That car would work high, work low, anywhere." More