NASCAR: Kenseth Wins Auto Club 500

Kevin Harvick, winner of last week's Daytona 500, had a late charge on Kenseth but his car suffered a flat tire, relegating him to 17th place.

Photo: californiaspeedway.com

FONTANA, Calif. - Roush Fenway Racing continued their mastery of California Speedway at Sunday's Auto Club 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race.

Matt Kenseth led 129 laps, including the final 23, to earn a trip to Gatorade Victory Lane.

The win marks the second Cup victory for Kenseth at California, as he was victorious at last year's Auto Club 500.

Kenseth won for the second time in as many days.

The former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion also won the Stater Bros. 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at California Speedway on Saturday. It was his fourth Busch win at the Speedway.

Roush Fenway previously won the Auto Club 500 in 2005 and 2003.

Although Roush Fenway Racing's Kenseth won the race, a pack of Chevy-powered cars dominated the top 10.

Hendrick teammates Jeff Gordon (2nd), Jimmie Johnson (3rd) and Kyle Busch (9th) were joined by Richard Childress teammates Jeff Burton (4th) and Clint Bowyer (6th), as well as Chevy drivers Mark Martin (5th) and Tony Stewart (8th), making it seven Chevys in the top 10.

Kevin Harvick, winner of last week's Daytona 500, had a late charge on Kenseth but his car suffered a flat tire, relegating him to 17th place.

Several other drivers had bad breaks today. Dale Earnhardt Jr. blew an engine and finished 40th.

Kasey Kahne had similar problems and finished 38th.

Mark Martin takes the points lead into the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 March 11th in Las Vegas.

Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and David Ragan round out the top-five in points.

Auto Club 500 Results:

NASCAR Leaderboard

1. Matt Kenseth Running

2. Jeff Gordon Running

3. Jimmie Johnson Running

4. Jeff Burton Running

5. Mark Martin Running

6. Clint Bowyer Running

7. Kurt Busch Running

8. Tony Stewart Running

9. Kyle Busch Running

10. Brian Vickers Running

11. Denny Hamlin Running

12. Ryan Newman Running

13. J.J. Yeley Running

14. Joe Nemechek Running

15. Greg Biffle Running

16. David Ragan Running

17. Kevin Harvick Running

18. Johnny Sauter Running

19. David Stremme Running

20. Paul Menard Running

21. Robby Gordon Running

22. Kyle Petty Running

23. Tony Raines Running

24. Elliott Sadler Running

25. David Gilliland Running

26. Juan Pablo Montoya Running

27. Ricky Rudd Running

28. Bobby Labonte Running

29. Carl Edwards Running

30. Jeff Green Running

31. Casey Mears Running

32. Dale Jarrett Running

33. David Reutimann Accident

34. John Andretti Mechanical

35. Sterling Marlin Mechanical

36. Ken Schrader Engine

37. Jamie McMurray Running

38. Kasey Kahne Engine

39. Dave Blaney Engine

40. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Engine

41. Scott Riggs Accident

42. Martin Truex Jr. Engine

43. Reed Sorenson Accident

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