If history is any indica- tion, Matt Kenseth is on his way to the 2013 Sprint Cup championship. For the first two years the Chase has opened at Chica- goland Speedway in Joliet, the winner of the GEICO 400 has gone on to win NASCAR’s Sprint Cup title. And that’s why Kenseth’s victory Sunday night is significant. “It matters because every single point is important from here to the last lap at Homestead [Miami in No- vember],” Kenseth said. “So you want to enjoy this and then go to New Hampshire [next week] to get as many points as you can.” Kenseth entered the race as the Sprint Cup points leader. He extended his lead over Kyle Busch to eight and over five-time champion Jimmie Johnson to 11. Kenseth’s victory ended a long race that included a five-hour, 10-minute rain delay and a week in which NASCAR’s credibility was questioned. With drivers reporting engine problems after the rain delay, Kenseth thought he was having an issue, too. “The first 30 laps did not go well, and it was 95 percent my fault,” Kenseth said. “We took off on one re- start, and I was beside Greg [Biffle] and he drove past me. But I think it was just the spot I was in, so as soon as he got back in front of me, it was fine. It was probably my imagination.” It was Kenseth’s sixth victory this season, his first with Joe Gibbs Racing and his 30th in 500 Cup starts. Kenseth is the 22nd driver in NASCAR history to reach 30 Cup victories. “I felt like we had good practices and [crew chief) Jason Ratcliff put everything together,” Kenseth said. “We were in the shadows all week with everything that was going on, which is alright. I think it’s been a tough week for some of the teams and for NASCAR. That part hasn’t been any fun for anybody.” Kyle Busch finished second, followed by Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Johnson. Jeff Gordon, the 13th member of the Chase, finished sixth. Four Chase drivers finished in the 9-12 spots: Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne. Greg Biffle was 16th. Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr. blew engines and didn’t finish the race. Kenseth’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Kyle Busch, missed out on the tripleheader. Busch won Friday’s truck race and Sat- urday’s Dollar General 300 Nationwide race. The only time Busch won a tripleheader was in 2010 at Bristol (Tenn.). No other NASCAR driver has won the triple, and Busch seemed desperate to pull it off. “I watched it slip right away,” Busch said. “It [stinks], but there’s noth- ing you could do about it. I didn’t think we had a shot at it after [Saturday’s] practice. But during the race, I could drive the heck out of it.” Email: [email protected] Twitter: @takouris NASCAR INJOLIET Kenseth sitting pretty with win BY TINA AKOURIS Sun-Times Media Extends lead in Sprint Cup standings afer long day at track Matt Kenseth (No. 20 car above) leads Jeff Gordon (No. 24) and Brad Keselowski during the GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Kenseth (right) won his sixth race of the season. | GETTY IMAGES 60 | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 | CHICAGO SUN-TIMES | CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.COM u

CST,2013-09-16,_13 (GEICO 400)

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If history is any indica-tion, Matt Kenseth is on hisway to the 2013 Sprint Cupchampionship.

For the first two years theChase has opened at Chica-goland Speedway in Joliet,the winner of the GEICO400 has gone on to winNASCAR’s Sprint Cup title.

And that’s why Kenseth’svictory Sunday night issignificant.

“It matters because everysingle point is importantfrom here to the last lap atHomestead [Miami in No-vember],” Kenseth said. “Soyou want to enjoy this andthen go to New Hampshire[next week] to get as manypoints as you can.”

Kenseth entered the raceas the Sprint Cup pointsleader. He extended his leadover Kyle Busch to eight andover five-time championJimmie Johnson to 11.

Kenseth’s victory endeda long race that included

a five-hour, 10-minute raindelay and a week in whichNASCAR’s credibility wasquestioned.

With drivers reportingengine problems after therain delay, Kenseth thoughthe was having an issue, too.

“The first 30 laps didnot go well, and it was 95percent my fault,” Kensethsaid. “We took off on one re-start, and I was beside Greg[Biffle] and he drove pastme. But I think it was justthe spot I was in, so as soonas he got back in front of me,it was fine. It was probablymy imagination.”

It was Kenseth’s sixthvictory this season, his firstwith Joe Gibbs Racing andhis 30th in 500 Cup starts.Kenseth is the 22nd driver inNASCAR history to reach 30Cup victories.

“I felt like we had goodpractices and [crew chief)Jason Ratcliff put everythingtogether,” Kenseth said. “Wewere in the shadows all weekwith everything that was

going on, which is alright. Ithink it’s been a tough weekfor some of the teams andfor NASCAR. That parthasn’t been any fun foranybody.”

Kyle Busch finishedsecond, followed by KevinHarvick, Kurt Busch andJohnson. Jeff Gordon, the13th member of the Chase,finished sixth.

Four Chase drivers fin-ished in the 9-12 spots: ClintBowyer, Ryan Newman, CarlEdwards and Kasey Kahne.Greg Biffle was 16th.

Joey Logano and DaleEarnhardt Jr. blew enginesand didn’t finish the race.

Kenseth’s teammateat Joe Gibbs Racing, KyleBusch, missed out on thetripleheader. Busch wonFriday’s truck race and Sat-urday’s Dollar General 300Nationwide race.

The only time Busch wona tripleheader was in 2010at Bristol (Tenn.). No otherNASCAR driver has won thetriple, and Busch seemed

desperate to pull it off.“I watched it slip right

away,” Busch said. “It[stinks], but there’s noth-

ing you could do about it. Ididn’t think we had a shot atit after [Saturday’s] practice.But during the race, I could

drive the heck out of it.”

Email: [email protected]:@takouris

NASCAR IN JOLIET

Kenseth sittingpretty with winBYTINAAKOURISSun-TimesMedia

Extends lead in Sprint Cup standings af!er long day at track

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 car above) leads Jeff Gordon (No. 24) andBradKeselowski during theGEICO400atChicagolandSpeedway. Kenseth (right)won his sixth race of the season. | GETTY IMAGES

60 | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 | CHICAGO SUN-TIMES | CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.COM u