Two races in, Kenseth is in control of NASCAR's Chase

LOUDON, N.H. – Matt Kenseth just might win a second NASCAR championship with a touch of dominance, not dullness.

Kenseth has firmly defended the style of his 2003 championship, stating his one-win season in the final year before NASCAR made the move to the playoff-style Chase format was as meaningful as all the titles collected by Jimmie Johnson or Tony Stewart.

He probably won't have to justify anything about his Cup run this season. There are plenty of checkered flags.

Kenseth made it 2-for-2 in the Chase, holding off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

He followed his victory in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship opener at Chicagoland with his series-high seventh victory of the season. Kenseth made his 500th career start and built a 14-point lead over Busch before the series shifts to Dover.

One win or seven, Kenseth will take a title any way he can.

"If you're fortunate enough to win a championship, or another championship, I don't think there's a bad way to win it," the 41-year-old Wisconsin native said. "I know it still gets brought up because it was the last year without the Chase and we won one race. But I was real proud of what we did that year. It was tough to accomplish."

"I don't feel like I'm necessarily a better driver than what I was last year," he said. "Certainly, things are different."

Just a little bit.

His gamble to change teams has been a success, and Ken­seth's eyes glistened as tears rolled down his cheeks in Victory Lane. He reached for a big white towel to wipe them away.

Neither side could have expected this kind of run.

"We've known Matt for a long time but, in all reality, we wouldn't have guessed seven wins," team President J.D. Gibbs said.

Kenseth and Busch made it a 1-2 finish for Joe Gibbs Racing and helped the organization win for the fifth time in the past seven races dating to Busch's win at Watkins Glen in August. Kenseth won at Bristol, Busch took Atlanta and Kenseth won the last two.

Kenseth joins Greg Biffle (2008) and Tony Stewart (2011) as the only drivers to win the first two Chase races. Stewart went on to win the title.

Kenseth moves on in the No. 20 Toyota to Dover, where he is a two-time winner. He led 29 laps there earlier this year before an engine failure ended his day.

"For me to win at Loudon, it's more than a stretch, more than a dream," Kenseth said. "This is probably one of my worst places. This just shows you how good this team is."

Chase drivers filled six of the top 10 spots. Biffle was third and Johnson fourth. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was sixth and Carl Edwards ninth. Jamie McMurray was the highest non-Chase finisher in fifth place.

Johnson, a five-time champion, is 18 points behind Kenseth. Edwards, Biffle and Harvick are all within 39 points of the leader.