NASCAR: Five Drivers Most Likely To Win At Auto Club
By Cole Mentzel
Contender No. 3: Matt Kenseth
Stats at Auto Club:
- Wins: 3
- Top-5’s: 9
- Top-10’s: 15
- Laps Led: 569
Matt Kenseth seems to race well whenever the Cup Series visits the west. That trend includes racing at Auto Club, where Kenseth is tied with Jimmie Johnson for the most top-10’s ever at the track.
Kenseth won all three of his races at the track between 2007 to 2009 while finishing no lower than seventh in the years where he did not win. Kenseth has 23 starts in Fontana, just three short of Jeff Gordon’s record of 26, providing him with plenty of experience there.
This season has not been great for him so far, as Kenseth has had problems almost every week. In Daytona, it was the late wiggle that caused him to lose the lead. In Atlanta, it was the improper fueling penalty that led to a black flag. At Las Vegas, it was a late wreck that took him out of the race. Though Kenseth won five races in 2015, he has struggled to find success so far in 2016, despite leading laps in three out of four races.
With that in mind, Kenseth will be looking for a solid finish this weekend, and with his experience at the track, he will be a threat to win and clinch a spot in the Chase.
Next: Due For Another Win