Motorsports

Kenseth not too upset in 5th

By wire services
Published July 9, 2004

JOLIET, Ill. - If these were the old days, Matt Kenseth would be getting nervous.

Entering Sunday's Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, he has dropped to fifth in the standings, 356 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson, after tough finishes in four of his past five races. He hasn't won since March and has one top-five finish in the past six races.

But these aren't the old days. NASCAR retooled its championship to try to put more emphasis on winning, and avoid having winners wrap up the title long before the season ends - as Kenseth did last year. Now the field is reset with 10 races to go, and all drivers in the top 10 can make a run at the sport's biggest prize.

"That is the good thing that with this new system you can make mistakes - but not a lot - and have problems and have things break early in the year, and can still run for the championship," Kenseth said. "That's definitely a lot different than it ever has been before.

"(But) we need to be more solid in the top 10 so in case we do have more problems we don't drop out of it."

NASCAR PLATES: The North Carolina House or Representatives approved a themed license plate that would allow NASCAR fans to display the number and signature of their favorite driver.

Proceeds from sales of the $30 plates would go to the nonprofit North Carolina Motorsports Association, which helps promote the industry, among other duties.

[Last modified July 9, 2004, 01:08:25]