Kenseth Runs Short on Fuel in Tough Ending at Talladega
November 2, 200910:45 AM
Talladega, Ala. (Nov. 1, 2009)– Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 DEWALT Team were running in second position with a solid shot at winning Sunday’s Amp Energy 500 race at Talladega Super Speedway, before a late caution forced ‘overtime’ laps with Kenseth coming up short on fuel and having to settle for a disappointing 24th-place finish after running the previous 15 laps inside the top-four.
“We had a good day in the pits and we were in position there at the end,” said Kenseth after the race. “We just ran out of gas and unfortunately didn’t get the finish we wanted.”
Kenseth was running in second position behind Roush Fenway teammate Jamie McMurray with just four laps to go when the race’s fifth and final caution was issued after the No. 39 car went airborne on lap 186.
The accident resulted in a red flag stoppage and then multi-lap cleanup. Kenseth was poised to run for the win – set to restart in second - but ran out of fuel just before the race went green for the final time for the green-white-checkered finish on lap 189.
The team came down pit road and refueled the car, with Kenseth finishing the race on the lead lap in 24th position, as caution was called for another multi-car accident that ended the race under caution on lap 191.
Kenseth had started the race 14th based on the Sprint Cup owner points after Saturday’s qualifying session was rained out. He was able to draft his way to the front on three separate occasions, but his No. 17 Fusion lacked the speed early to stay up front.
He moved all the way to third by just the 15th lap of the race and would work himself in and out of the draft for the next 100 laps. He moved back inside the top five on lap146 and he would run all but a handful of the remaining 42 laps inside the top five.
Working with McMurray, who went on to win the race, Kenseth moved to second on lap 181 with seven laps remaining in the event. He was able to hold position for the next seven laps, and looked in strong position to take his third win of the season before running out of fuel just before the final restart.
The team returns to action next weekend at Texas Motor Speedway where Kenseth finished 5th and led 55 laps in the spring. Green flag for the race is set for 3:31 p.m. EST. The event will be televised live by ABC with prerace coverage set for 2:30 p.m.
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