Race 2 Win: Pocono 500 - Matt Kenseth Notes

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Pocono 500 - Matt Kenseth Notes

Matt Kenseth
Pocono Raceway
2.5-mile triangle, located in Pocono, Pa.
NNCS: Pocono 500

Fast Facts

Matt Kenseth’s win at Dover was the 12th of his NEXTEL Cup career, and the second of 2006.

Dover becomes the tenth different track that Kenseth has scored a win at. 2006 becomes the third season in which Kenseth has recorded multiple wins.

Kenseth’s eight top-five finishes in 2006 is currently tops among NEXTEL Cup Series drivers.

In Kenseth’s first 10 trips to Pocono, he finished on the lead lap nine out 10 times. However, last year, Kenseth finished one or more laps down in both races.

Kenseth has led only 23 laps in 12 races at Pocono, the lowest total number of laps led at any track where Kenseth has 10 or more starts.

Tracking Kenseth’s turnaround; at this point in 2005 compared to this season
Rank Points Behind Wins Top Fives Top 10s
2006 – 2 1937 -74 2 8 9
2005 – 22 1295 -617 0 0 2

Matt Kenseth - NNCS, Pocono 500
Team: No. 17 DEWALT Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Robbie Reiser
Chassis: RK-340 Brand New car; never tested
RK-280 Tested at Charlotte, last ran Michigan, Jun. ’06; finished 4th

	  	Races	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Poles	Money	
June Race	6	0	1	2	0	$486,144
Sept. Race	6	0	1	3	0	$473,094
Cumulative	12	0	2	5	0	$959,238

Kenseth on racing at Pocono Raceway:
“Pocono hasn’t been one of our better tracks; especially last year, this place really hurt us in the points. But, we’re riding a pretty good wave of momentum right now. Coming off of an awesome win at Dover means a lot. That was a special win for me and the team and our sponsor DEWALT because being only one and a half hours away, they kind of consider Dover their home track, and they had a big turnout. But, that was last week, and that’s how you have to approach this, week by week. Pocono is a new weekend and a completely different track. You need a lot of grip off the corners, which are pretty flat, if you’re going to get the big run you need down the straight-a-ways to make the pass. It’s a unique track with a lot of room to pass, it’s really fast and I’m looking to have a lot of fun out there on Sunday.”

Crew Chief Robbie Reiser on racing at Pocono Raceway:
“Pocono creates a lot of different challenges for your team as far as race setup. I think that’s why you see teams bring so many different type cars here. Some bring short track cars, some bring speedway cars; we’re bringing a brand new car that we sort of built with this place in mind. It’s never tested other than a little wind tunnel time, so we’re anxious to see how it’s going to work out.”

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