Kenseth fails to defend all-star win
by The Cambridge News
posted by Cambridge Lions
Defending All-Star Challenge winner Matt Kenseth ended the special three-segment event with an 11th-place finish Saturday night under the lights at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, while Roush Racing teammate Mark Martin, in his final year of Nextel Cup racing, took the checkered flag.
Kenseth adn the No. 17 DEWALT Ford qualified in the 10th starting position for the All-Star shootout. The special format called for three segments starting with a 40-lap segment followed by a 30-lap one and finishing with a 20-lap session.
Kenseth finished the first segment in the 12th position, noting that the No. 17 was “massive loose.” After a random drawing which resulted in the inversion of the first six postions, the second segment of the Challenge was underway, with Kenseth starting in the 12th position. Kenseth finished in the 10th position. Kenseth restarted the third segment in the ninth position, after teammate Greg Biffle blew a left front tire, creating damae to his racecar which spelled the end of the day.