Joe Gibbs Racing driver Matt Kenseth scored his first victory this NASCAR Sprint Cupa season after taking the checkered flag in first position at the end of Sunday's Las Vegas Motor Speedway race.
Kenseth, who won on his 41st birthday, decided not replace any tires during the final pit stop under caution, a strategy which proved decisive in his attempt to squeeze and remain ahead of Kasey Kahne's No.5 Chevrolet SS.
"I was real nervous all day. Kahne had the best car. I told Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) with about 12 to go that I was sorry we were going to lose. We were just too tight... We didn't have the fastest car there, but we had it where we needed it to be," Kenseth said.
Pole-winner and reigning champion Brad Keselowski finished third, while Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards took fourth and fifth positions respectively. Standings leader Jimmie Johnson had to settle with sixth place.
The next 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup race is set to take place next Sunday, at the Bristol Motor Speedway (Food City 500).
"I was real nervous all day. Kahne had the best car. I told Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) with about 12 to go that I was sorry we were going to lose. We were just too tight... We didn't have the fastest car there, but we had it where we needed it to be," Kenseth said.
Pole-winner and reigning champion Brad Keselowski finished third, while Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards took fourth and fifth positions respectively. Standings leader Jimmie Johnson had to settle with sixth place.
The next 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup race is set to take place next Sunday, at the Bristol Motor Speedway (Food City 500).