Feb 15th, 2009 - New York Times
Related topics:
Filed at 8:14 p.m. ET
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The rain was coming, and Matt Kenseth knew it was time to get going.
It was the Daytona 500, a race where drivers wait until the very end to make their big move for NASCAR's biggest prize.
Only this time, nobody knew when the end would be.
The rain that had threatened Sunday's season-opening race all day finally rolled in moments after Kenseth slid past Elliott Sadler for the lead. Then the former NASCAR champion was forced to sit out a 20-minute delay before claiming victory after 152 of 200 laps. It was just the fourth rain-shortened 500 in the race's 51-year history, and first since Michael Waltrip's 2003 victory.
Related stories:
Matt Kenseth’s Victory Drought Ends in Rain at Daytona 500
Feb 15th, 2009 - New York Times
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Matt Kenseth’s voice wavered, the emotion pouring out as the rain poured down on Daytona International Speedway. Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, had lost the way to victory lane in the past year...
Related videos from YouTube:
1:50Matt Kenseth wins 2009 Daytona 500
NASCAR couldn't have made a worse ending than to call this thing. How about run the race tomorrow? It's a holiday, but no Mike Helton you are a coward!! You were the worst and still are the worst NASCAR President we've had.
2:44Late Pass Helps Kenseth Win Daytona 500
Matt Kenseth won the rain-shortened Daytona 500 Sunday. The AP's Jason Bronis reports from Daytona Beach, Florida that just after Kenseth took the lead, rain began to fall and officials called the race. (Feb. 16)
1:32Kenseth Happy to Win the Daytona 500
Matt Kenseth won the rain-shortened Daytona 500 Sunday. He passed Elliott Sadler for the lead with 54 laps left. It began to rain just after Kenseth took the lead. The race was soon called official. (Feb. 15)
2:05Matt Kenseth Daytona 500 Victory Lane 2009
Matt Kenseth's Victory Lane interview after winning the 2009 Daytona 500. Congratulations to Matt, the #17 team, and Jack Roush on their amazing victory. It was a race for the ages...
