Forward progress

Having to rally last season, Kenseth starts 2006 strong

In the first two seasons NASCAR has used the Chase for the Nextel Cup to determine the champion of its top series, Matt Kenseth has qualified for the 10-race playoff both times.

The first time, he did it the easy way – winning early in 2004 and solidifying his position in the top 10.

Last season, Kenseth had to do it the hard way – rallying from 24th in the points standings in June to cracking the top 10 one week before the 26-race cutoff point in September.

Through the first eight races of 2006, Kenseth and his No. 17 Roush Racing team appear more like the former rather than the latter.

Kenseth already has one win – in February at California – and after a third-place finish Saturday at Phoenix, took over the series points lead, holding a nine-point advantage over Jimmie Johnson heading into Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega, Ala.

When asked how it felt to be the points leader after the Phoenix race, Kenseth was a little taken aback.

“Didn’t even really think about it. It’s better than being second, I guess. You know, it’s really early in the year, but I think when you’re leading the points or when you’re solidly in the top 10 it definitely gives you a good feeling and it gives the guys (on the team) a good feeling,” Kenseth said.

“There’s a little bit more comfort, in the (first) 26 races, being in the front. So, if we can keep running like this and stay solidly in the top 10 until we get to the Chase, that’s really our goal.”

Kenseth’s surprise may have come in his unexpected finish at Phoenix.

Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 team lead the Nextel Cup points standings with 1,218, nine ahead of second-place Jimmie Johnson.

Although the team used a new short-track car, Kenseth said he struggled with it much of the race. A slew of contenders running out of gas at the end aided his strong finish.

“I feel like our mile-and-a-half stuff is really good, two-mile stuff, downforce stuff, and our speedway stuff was great at Daytona,” he said. “We just got to work on our short-track stuff just a little bit more to be able to run with the top few guys.”

Kenseth, the 2003 Nextel Cup champion, credits his team’s work over the winter on improving the team’s fleet of cars as a big part of his stronger start this season, along with some personnel changes.

“I think our engineering staff and Robbie (Reiser, crew chief) and everybody, they were able to figure out some things on our cars and make our cars better, make our bodies better,” Kenseth said. “I feel this year, with moving some people up and moving some people around helped our team. I think it energized it a little bit (especially) when you have the same thing for a long time sometimes – just like going to work every day.

“I think this made a new enthusiasm. Nobody’s been in this position, and they’re just fired up. It’s been a fun start to the year, that’s for sure.”

To continue his strong start, Kenseth will have to do well at Talladega, typically not one of his strong tracks.

His 26.9 average starting position there is the worst of any track in Kenseth’s Cup career. His career average finish at restrictor plate tracks is 19.0, much lower than his career average for all tracks (15.6).

“Talladega is all about staying out of trouble, getting to the end and picking the right lane at the right time. Oh yeah, and if you’re in the lead, hope there isn’t a caution with under five to go,” he said. “I felt last fall we were in good shape. We were leading at the end and had everyone lined up behind us, then the caution came out and bunched everyone back together, and we ended up pushing Dale (Jarrett) across for the win.”