Will Matt Kenseth Lead a Veteran Resurgence as Chase Nears?

Matt Kenseth's victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway may not have been a turning point. It may have been no more than an isolated race, off in a corner of the country, as remote in its way as all the golf at Royal Troon.

It was a change but maybe not a sea change.

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Five of the top six finishers were at least 40 years old. What in the name of Harry Gant was going on out there? Are there far-flung ramifications? For gosh sakes, man, the Chase is getting closer!

As the laps expired—and the veterans marched—NBC Sports' Jeff Burton said, "Kyle Busch must be, like, 'who are these guys I'm racing?' He has been in front of them all day, and now he is in a battle with them."

Seven more races define the 16 drivers who qualify for the NASCAR Chase. Eleven are currently known, barring the unexpected. Until recently, this has seemed like a long season's journey into night for revered drivers enjoying their last rays of the checkered-flag sun.

Tony Stewart, 45, who won on June 26 in Sonoma, California, finished second to Kenseth, 44, in Loudon. Only Joey Logano, 26, got to play with the big kids. The average age of the top six finishers was 40.2. Discarding Logano raised it to 43.0.

Race	Winner (Age)	Top-5 Avg. Age	40-Plus in Top 5
Sonoma, June 28	Stewart (45)	35.6	1
Daytona, July 2	Keselowski (32)	28.4	0
Kentucky, July 9	Keselowski (32)	37.8	1
Loudon, July 17	Kenseth (44)	40.2	4

Kenseth—who led all of 38 laps, and significantly, the final 31—was, is and always has been a voice of reason. Whoa, boys and girls, let's not get carried away.

Jim Cole/Associated Press

"I've got to be 100 percent honest with you," Kenseth said, embracing his belief in truth, justice and the American way. "I haven't spent two seconds thinking about the Chase. I just haven't. I think these are all big races."

Now...get off my lawn!

Kenseth is noted for his stealth. He doesn't mind being underestimated. He steals off with trophies in getaway jets. He keeps a cool head—with one notable and historic exception during last year's Chase—and if he were a pitcher, and not a driver, would never tip off pitches.

As Burton told the television audience of Kenseth:

"

He is building momentum for another championship run. Without a doubt, you have to consider him. He is driving for the hottest team in racing (Joe Gibbs Racing) and has the experience to get it done.

"

Meanwhile, Stewart—who didn't begin the season at all due to a back injury and struggled to find his form—heads into Indianapolis, a place he dearly loves, on a hot streak that seemed unimaginable a month ago.

Think Stewart's tough? Check this out from the post-race media conference:

"

I mean, the era I grew up as a race-car driver...I didn't know I had broken my back four times. This last time...I thought it was the second time I broke my back. This is the fourth time I've broken my back in my career. Two of them, I didn't even know about.

"

Back in my day, if we didn't break our backs, they broke 'em for us. Just to make us tough!

Stealth. Smoke. Happy. The Biff. All cutting up as if NHMS were the Loyal Order of Eagles and the New Hampshire 301 (318.5 miles) a friendly afternoon of Texas Hold 'Em.

One notable 40-something, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is on the sidelines, awaiting doctor's clearance to race again because he is going through "a concussion protocol." If Earnhardt can't go in next week's race at the Brickyard, his replacement will be...

...Drum roll please, maestro...Jeff Gordon!

What could be better than that? Besides, of course, Junior getting well.

"It's been an up and down year," Kenseth said. "Beginning of the year, we performed really, really, really well, and just didn't get the finishes for, it seems like, a different reason every week."

Kenseth and his Gray Panthers weathered the storms. He has won twice, as has Jimmie Johnson, 40. Stewart is in The Chase, as is Harvick. Between them, they have won 11 championships.

There's life in those bones. A month ago, the season didn't look like this.

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All quotes are taken from NASCAR media, team and manufacturer sources unless otherwise noted.