Matt Kenseth takes NASCAR victory at New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. Matt Kenseth took advantage of Kevin Harvick’s empty fuel cell Sunday and won the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Kenseth clinched a spot in the second round of the NASCAR’s Chase with the victory.

But it probably wouldn’t have happened if Harvick hadn’t run out of gas while leading on the 298th of the race’s 300 laps. Harvick had dominated the race to that point, but a decision not to enter pit road to refuel during a caution with 63 laps remaining eventually cost him. Harvick would end up 21st.

Denny Hamlin, last week’s winner and another driver who is also guaranteed a spot in the second round of the playoffs, finished second. Joey Logano was third and non-Chase driver Greg Biffle finished fourth.

Several Chase drivers had problems. Brad Keselowski was penalized on a restart and finished 12th. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (25th) and Kurt Busch (19th) also ran out of gas. Kyle Busch wrecked midway through the race and finished 37th.

Pole winner Carl Edwards finished fifth, but is third in the Chase standings behind Kenseth and Hamlin.

Kyle Busch, Paul Menard, Harvick and Clint Bowyer are in the bottom four of the Chase standings heading into next’s week race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. The top 12 of the 16 Chase drivers advance into the second round.

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