Matt Kenseth and Plate Racing..why?

[jaqua99]

Has anyone else sort of realized Matt has become "the guy" lately at plate tracks, he's always the guy you probably have to beat. It was jr for a bit, then Tony Stewart seemed to have the dominant car almost every Daytona and Talladega race for a little while but the last few seasons Matt has really come into himself at the plate tracks. He seems to always lead laps and appears to have the car to beat more often than not both at Daytona and Talladega lately.

Why do you guys think that is?

 

[RP Motorsports]

Its a combination of Matt and the Gen6.

He's always been one of the guys that was mostly better in the downforce cars (gen 4), and took longer to figure out the COT. Then when the Gen6 came in, it was headed back towards the gen4 cars (more downforce/stability), and even more so in 2014 with the changes they made to the competition package. Much like with Earnhardt Jr. and a few others, the downforce cars have really suited him well.

Not only that, but he seems to have a lot of that "Earnhardt understanding" at the plate tracks. He really understands all the facets of how the draft works, and how to work the draft. People often reference plate racing as "easy" or that it "takes no talent", but in reality, it takes a whole different talent and skill set to be successful. Understanding the aerodynamics and how they affect every area of the car differently, and then how to utilize those dynamics/properties to your advtange. All while observing and processing how all the other cars around you are being affected/behaving, in order to make split-second decisions. And you sure as hell need confidence to make those decisions within a fraction of a second, too.

Much like other track types, you can clearly see who has the high-level plate track skill set. There aren't many, but Matt surely is one of them.

 

[The_Dolfan]

What's awkward is David Ragan and Aric Almorola each have more point-plate wins than Matt.

But really, he is good. Probably would have won the 2013 500 had his engine not blown. Also at Dega in '13 (spring) he was fairly dominant. Last year though I didn't really notice him in the plate races.

 

[4WideRacing]

What's awkward is David Ragan and Aric Almorola each have more point-plate wins than Matt.

But really, he is good. Probably would have won the 2013 500 had his engine not blown. Also at Dega in '13 (spring) he was fairly dominant. Last year though I didn't really notice him in the plate races.

Are we talking about the same 2-time Daytona 500 Champion Matt Kenseth? Or are you just talking about in the last 2 years?

 

[Sgt Slaughter]

Matt also almost won in 2003 at Talladega in the spring (got shoved up by Earnhardt and lost the main pack) and fall (engine blew with only 15 or so laps to go). He's pretty much been at or near the front of every plate race since 2003, give or take a few races here and there. 2012 he probably could have won every plate race had there not been shenanigans.

 

[CarlEdwardsRulz]

In the last eight point races at Daytona and Talladega, no other driver has led more laps than Kenseth... Actually he and Jimmie Johnson are tied at 275 laps led apiece over the last eight plate races.

 

[The_Dolfan]

Are we talking about the same 2-time Daytona 500 Champion Matt Kenseth? Or are you just talking about in the last 2 years?

Talking about Gen-6 Matt Kenseth.

 

[evan07]

Talking about Gen-6 Matt Kenseth.

Matt won 3 plate races in what would be the Gen 5 car I believe. 2 Daytona 500s and then won at Talladega when everyone crashed in turn 4. He only has 1 plate win with the Gen6.

 

[Phoenix]

Matt also won one or two Xfinity races since 2013. I thought he won the July race last year in Xfinity, but I could be thinking of '13. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I think he has two Gen6 plate wins, one at Talladega in 2013, and the Budweiser Dual #2 last year.

I'm just glad he didn't finish 2nd in points, usually that driver has a terrible year the following year. Hamlin in '11, Edwards in '12, and Kenseth in '14.

 

[jordanvile]

I think people are mixed up here, so I'll clarify. Matt Kenseth has yet to win a points-paying race in the Gen6 on a SuperSpeedway. Kenseth DOES however have a Budweiser Duel and a Sprint Unlimited to his name in the Gen6. However, I still wouldn't be surprised to see Kenseth get one soon, considering this upcoming Daytona 500 is just the 9th plate race in the Gen6. The only current winners on the superspeedways in the Gen6 include Jimmie Johnson (2 Wins), David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, and Brad Keselowski.

 

[The_Dolfan]

Matt won 3 plate races in what would be the Gen 5 car I believe. 2 Daytona 500s and then won at Talladega when everyone crashed in turn 4. He only has 1 plate win with the Gen6.

Talking about GEN6 Matt Kenseth...

And yes, he has 2 wins in general (2014 Budweiser Duel, 2015 Sprint Unlimited) but as I said, since 2013 in POINTS PAYING RACES he has no wins:
Daytona 2013 - Johnson, Johnson
Dega 2013 - Ragan, McMurray
Daytona 2014 - Earnhardt, Almirola
Dega 2014 - Hamlin, Keselowski

I'm not taking anything away from Matt, he's ran in the front basically his whole career at superspeedways, BUT I was clearly talking about point wins in the Gen 6.

 

[Phoenix]

2013 Daytona 500: 37th, leading when engine blew.
2013 Aaron's 499: 6th
2013 Coke Zero 400: 33rd, Accident
2013 Camping World 500: 20th caught up in a wreck

2014 Daytona 500: 7th
2014 Aaron's 499: 37th, Keselowski's mess I think
2014 Coke Zero 400: 20th (2nd big one)
2014 Geico 500: 2nd. Almost.

 

[WILDISH]

I don't think the gen-6 has anything to do with his success. Not only did he win the Daytona 500 and Talladega II in 2012, but he absolutely dominated Talladega in the spring and Daytona in the summer. Roush had their superspeedway program figured out that year because Biffle had some great finishes as well.

 

[evan07]

Yeah I totally forgot about that Duel win.