Can Kenseth make it three in a row?
BRISTOL, Tenn. - Matt Kenseth, who won at California earlier this year, will shoot for his third consecutive win when the NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers take the track next Sunday.
Only once in the last seven years has a driver won three consecutive races - in 2004 when Jimmie Johnson won Charlotte, Martinsville and Atlanta.
Kenseth has Michigan and Bristol wins already in his pocket heading to California.
"I think we've had cars that have been capable of running up front almost every single week," Kenseth said. "Martinsville is a bad place for me and the Poconos and that first Loudon race. Other than that, I think we've had cars that have been capable of finishing in the top five each and every week and that's just amazing.
"Our stuff has just been running spectacular. We've been close to winning a lot of races. We've let a few slip away and it feels good to get a couple of them."
But how about three?
"We've got to go do the work.," crew chief Robbie Reiser said. "You can't take none of this stuff for granted. Every week somebody works on their car and works real hard to get their things to run.
"Just because you've got a track record in the past and the cars seem to run well doesn't mean you're going to go out there and be able to win."
As much as Kenseth and his team will be working for a win, he will be working on fine-tuning his operation heading into the Chase. Only two races - California and Richmond - remain before the postseason begins.
"I think we've got to go prepare ourselves for California and Richmond and the next couple of races and be ready to go here and not worry about what we've done in the past, but what we've got to do in the future," Reiser said.
