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Matt Kenseth rallies to win at Dover

NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, front, passes Jamie McMurray to take the lead on the 398th lap of the Neighborhood Excellence 400 at the Dover Speedway in Dover, Delaware, on Sunday. Kenseth won the race. PHOTO: AP

One day after turning 30, Jamie McMurray came close to giving himself the perfect belated birthday gift: a trip to Victory Lane.

But Matt Kenseth spoiled the party.

Kenseth's decision to not pit on the final caution was a smart one, helping him zip past his Roush Racing teammate with three laps left to pull away Sunday and win at Dover International Speedway.

Crew chief Robbie Reiser wanted Kenseth to pit for fresh tires late in a race that had become marred by yellow flags. With three others in the hunt, Kenseth decided to stay out and take a risk that his tires were strong enough to hold up for the final, frantic laps.

The move paid off.

"I just thought that was my only chance to win the race," Kenseth said. ``I felt like that if we got four tires, we weren't going to get back up and win the race.''

McMurray held the lead for most of the final 90 laps until the patient Kenseth made his move, passing Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick late before the leader was firmly in view.

Kenseth reached McMurray in lapped traffic, raced side-by-side, then dipped low on a clean pass off the fourth turn to race to his second win of the season and 12th of his career.
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