| As Chevrolet teams dominate the 2007 Nextel | | | | the most efficient car when using the restrictor |
| Cup Series, Ford driver Matt Kenseth is looking to | | | | plates. “Probably the same guys you always |
| take his second win of the season onboard his | | | | look to beat at these restrictor-plate races; the |
| Number 17 R+L Carriers Ford Fusion. He would | | | | Childress cars run all right. I think the Hendrick |
| have a chance for his second win of the season | | | | cars have been really strong lately, and Dale Junior |
| at the upcoming Pepsi 400 which will be held at | | | | is always strong here, so, you know, at Daytona |
| the Daytona International Speedway. | | | | or Talladega anybody can really get it, it all |
| The said race is the eighteenth of the season and | | | | depends on how the race goes.” |
| will officially mark the halfway point of the season | | | | Kenseth also pointed out what he needs to have |
| and Kenseth needs a win to further strengthen | | | | in his car to take his second win of the season. |
| his chance of making it to the Chase for the | | | | “I think handling will be really important unless |
| Nextel Cup. | | | | you get a real short run at the end. You can have |
| Kenseth’s first win of the season came at | | | | a car that's not real fast and handles good, and if |
| the Auto Club 500, the second race of the | | | | you get enough green-flag laps you've got a |
| season. But prior to that, Matt Kenseth finished | | | | chance at it, too,” he said. |
| 27th at the Daytona 500 which was held at the | | | | Kenseth with his car with components as reliable |
| Daytona International Speedway, the same circuit | | | | as Ford Bronco parts will be battling history as his |
| that will host the Pepsi 400. | | | | team has struggled in the past at the Daytona |
| Kenseth said that the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi | | | | International Speedway. “Daytona has been |
| 400 will not be different from each other. | | | | very frustrating over the past couple of years, |
| “The races aren't a lot different, it's slicker, it's | | | | for us anyway,” he said. “We've had a car |
| a lot hotter at the track,” said Kenseth. | | | | good enough to win two or three races, but it |
| “The harder tire that we ran in February was | | | | seems like something always happens to take us |
| pretty slick as well, so handling is probably a little | | | | out of contention. We thought we were in good |
| bit more important here, so other than that, the | | | | shape with about 15 to go in the 500 this year, |
| race is the same.” | | | | but things got shuffled around, and we ended up |
| The race will also be the last time that the old | | | | restarting eighth or ninth for the |
| template with restrictor plates will be used. | | | | green-white-checkered finish.” |
| Restrictor plates are devices installed at the intake | | | | Kenseth summed up his preparation for the Pepsi |
| of an engine to limit its power output. This is one | | | | 400 saying: “Certainly, we realize there's a |
| of the numerous regulations enforced by | | | | little work to do to be a contender for a win |
| NASCAR on all cars entering the competition. | | | | every week, like the 24 (Gordon) and some of |
| The Ford driver said that team Childress is the | | | | them guys, and we're working hard at getting our |
| one to beat at the Pepsi 400 since the team has | | | | cars better. |