WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — It’s almost difficult to remember that Matt Kenseth won the first two races of the Sprint Cup season. Now, he’s just trying to maintain his position in the top 12 in points to qualify for the Chase for the championship.
After his triumphs at Daytona and California, Kenseth finished last at Las Vegas and has had six other finishes of 20th or worse. He ranks 11th in points, just one point ahead of Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle but is upbeat after finishing 10th and 11th in the past two races.
“I feel like we’re a little bit better, but it’s not where we want to be,” said Kenseth, who recently lost longtime sponsor Dewalt on his No. 17. “I mean, we haven’t been a legitimate contender to win a race in a long time, and I know the team is capable of winning. We want to get back to that point but, certainly, we need to walk before we can run.”
Kenseth has three top 10s at Watkins Glen, finished 12th a year ago, and has an average finish of 16.2. He qualified a dismal 42nd.
“You take it one week at a time,” Kenseth said. “You just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Even between teammates. Only one point separates the two.
“Matt and I race very good together,” Biffle said. “We’re trying to be as courteous as we can on the race track to each other, but we also know that it may come down to one of us not being in it. I hope that’s not the case, though.”
WHOA HAAS: Tony Stewart’s amazing new team seems likely to remain a two-car operation.
Although Stewart likely would have a host of several drivers to choose from, a third car for the Stewart-Haas operation in 2010 is still up in the air.
“I don’t think we’ve ruled that out yet, but it’s getting to the point of the season where if we’re going to have a third team for next season, it would have to happen pretty quickly,” Stewart said prior to the Cup race at Watkins Glen International. “At least having the sponsor and driver lined up to make sure we have an adequate amount of time to get all the tools and pieces in place for next year. But I would say it’s not very likely.”
Stewart-Haas was formed when Stewart assumed ownership of half of an existing team late last year, and the two-time Cup champ said the original goal was a possible expansion.
“The building is capable of holding three teams, for sure. That’s not a problem,” Stewart said. “It’s just adding people and making sure the funding is in place.”
LALLY’S LA-LA LAND: Road racer Andy Lally will finally realize a lifelong dream on Sunday, racing for the first time in Sprint Cup, and the 34-year-old road racer from Long Island was ecstatic after qualifying 15th.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a little kid,” said Lally, a three-time champion in the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series. “It’s really hard to put into words the amount of time and the years and the nights and the days that I’ve thought about trying to get this opportunity. This is without a doubt, hands-down, the biggest motor sport day I’ve ever looked forward to in my life. It’s a massive deal.”
“I am not going to Disneyland yet,” said Lally, who is driving the No. 71 for TRG Motorsports team owner Kevin Buckler. David Gilliland, the regular driver of that car, failed to make the 43-car field. “We are going to focus on getting a good race car.”
Lally wasn’t the only one smiling.
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment,” Kurt Busch said. “We respect him a great deal. He’s been around a long time. Now we get a chance to say we ran against him. It’s moving.”
SPARKPLUGS: Marcos Ambrose was fastest in final Cup practice on Saturday, just ahead of polesitter Jimmie Johnson. … Several cars spun out in Saturday’s final practices. David Stremme slid off course twice on one lap but avoided contact both times, Sam Hornish Jr. spun in turn 11, and Boris Said slid off course during practice and into a gravel pit in the chicane. … Marcos Ambrose won Saturday’s Zippo 200 in the Nationwide Series for the second straight year, and he elected to take the inside lane when he was leading on two late double-file restarts. Kyle Busch, running second both times, was relegated to the outside and third-place driver Carl Edwards passed Busch each time. Busch managed to regain the spot each time and finish second.
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