Regular-Season Finale at Richmond: AKA The Matt Kenseth Show

Matt Kenneth gets his four win at Richmond, tying him with Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch for the 2015 regular season
Credit: Carol D'Agostino for Skirts and Scuffs

Although there were no last-minute plot surprises, the season finale at Richmond unfolded in a dramatic fashion, especially if you are a Matt Kenseth fan, or a Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) fan for that matter. During portions of the race all four cars in the JGR stable were running nose to tail.

But in the end there was one driver who executed in dominant fashion to the tune of 352 laps led – Matt Kenseth. Only once before had Kenseth led more laps, and that was 415 at Bristol in 2005.

This is Kenseth’s fourth victory and 16^th top-10 finish in 2015, and his second victory and 15^th top- 10 finish in 32 races at Richmond International Raceway. This win puts Kenseth in an elite group of drivers who have won four times this year:  six time champion Jimmie Johnson and Kenseth's JGR teammate, Kyle Busch.

The race featured lots of long green runs with only six cautions, 13 lead changes and four leaders. Polesitter Joey Logano was the only non-JGR driver who was able to lead laps in race. 

During a caution for debris at Lap 290, Michael McDowell, driver of the #95 car, hit the safety truck and had to take his car to the garage, ending his day.

For Kenseth the dominating win put past disappointment into perspective, making the win even sweeter. “Man, we’ve had such good cars here the last couple months. So, I feel good for these guys. They’ve been giving us bullets. All four of our cars have been really stout. This is a nice way to roll into the Chase,” Kenseth said.

As he goes into the Chase it would be natural to think about the championship he won back in 2003, but to him there is no comparison.

“That was so long ago. There have been so many rules changes and so many things are different, but certainly right now as a company we’re on a roll. They’ve given me some fast cars here the last couple of months. Had a good one at Bristol and broke and I was the goat last weekend and drove it into the fence early in the race and ruined our day with probably the best car so it feels good to come here and do everything right and get the win,” he adds.

As the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup begins next week in Chicago, Kenseth Nation will be watching anxiously to see if another championship is about to unfold for the 43-year-old driver. Of course, there are 15 more drivers whose fans feel exactly the same way.

The Federated Auto Parts 400 race results:

1. Matt Kenseth

2. Kyle Busch

3. Joey Logano

4. Aric Almirola

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6. Denny Hamlin

7. Jeff Gordon

8. Brad Keselowski

9. Jimmie Johnson

10. Clint Bowyer

11. Carl Edwards

12. Kyle Larson

13. Jamie McMurray

14. Kevin Harvick

15. Kurt Busch

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

17. David Ragan

18. Kasey Kahne

19. Danica Patrick

20. Ryan Newman

21. Casey Mears

22. Brian Scott(i)

23. Trevor Bayne

24. AJ Allmendinger

25. Justin Allgaier

26. Paul Menard

27. Austin Dillon

28. Sam Hornish Jr.

29. Tony Stewart

30. Landon Cassill(i)

31. Greg Biffle

32. Martin Truex Jr.

33. David Gilliland

34. JJ Yeley(i)

35. Brett Moffitt 

36. Matt DiBenedetto 

37. Alex Bowman

38. Cole Whitt

39. Jeb Burton 

40. Jeffrey Earnhardt(i)

41. Reed Sorenson

42. Michael McDowell

43. Michael Annett