Notebook: Team effort clinches Roush Fenway's milestone victory

Notebook: Team effort clinches Roush Fenway's milestone victory

Feb. 28, 2012

Special to NASCAR Wire Service

Almost lost in the shuffle of a freak jet-dryer fire, rain delays and Danica Patrick's debut on NASCAR's biggest stage was a big round number for Roush Fenway Racing, one of the sport's most storied teams.

In the end, it was a signature display of teamwork that made it happen.

Though the 54th Daytona 500 took a turn toward theater of the bizarre before it lurched to its conclusion around 1 a.m. ET Tuesday morning, it didn't stop Matt Kenseth from convincingly clinching team owner Jack Roush's 300th victory in NASCAR competition.

Of Roush's 126 wins in NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup series, 22 have come from Kenseth, who has been a full-time competitor for RFR since 2000. This most recent win -- his second in the Daytona 500 -- came in close competition with Greg Biffle, another loyal driver who has also been with Roush for his entire Cup career.

"For Matt to have the success or Greg to have had the success of bringing a 300th win would have been fitting," Roush said, "but tonight Matt had the best car, and of course Greg was unselfish and worked with him, and they pulled it off together."

Besides Kenseth's win, Roush capped a strong Speedweeks with Biffle's third-place finish and Carl Edwards' eighth-place effort after starting from the pole. The Roush veterans also took three of the top four starting spots on the grid and secured the team's first win in a Daytona qualifying race after 25 years of trying.

"It's a great start and it couldn't happen to a better guy," Edwards said. "Matt Kenseth deserves this win."

HAMLIN HELPS HIMSELF

After a winless 2011, Denny Hamlin wasn't making too many waves in the Daytona preliminaries. He saved his biggest statement for the 500 itself.

Hamlin started 31st and led the most laps (57 of 202) to come home an impressive fourth in the highest-finishing Toyota.

"We didn't qualify that well," Hamlin said, "We didn't finished that well in the Duel, but we showed that we had one of the best cars today."

KESELOWSKI: LOOK WHO'S TALKING

While most drivers were twiddling their thumbs during the two-hour stoppage, Brad Keselowski was putting his to use.

In doing so, one of NASCAR's most ardent users of Twitter added more than 100,000 followers to his social network account. NASCAR announced Tuesday that it would not punish Keselowski for his use of social media during the race, saying that safety was not compromised by his actions.

The sanctioning body also received a social-media bump during Speedweeks, with NASCAR's Twitter account growing by 23% in February alone.

JET-DRYER DRIVER UNHURT

Duane Barnes, the driver of the jet-dryer truck involved in Monday night's frightening accident in the Daytona 500, was unscathed Tuesday. Barnes, 52, was released from Halifax Medical Center after a precautionary evaluation Monday night and returned to the track to watch the conclusion of NASCAR's season opener.

The support truck driven by Barnes, who has worked on Michigan International Speedway's maintenance staff for 24 years, was struck by Juan Pablo Montoya's out-of-control car during a caution period, igniting a massive fireball on the track that halted the race.

"I appreciate everyone for taking the time to write, call and ask how I am," Barnes said. "I am OK and I am amazed at how many people have wished me well. I am also glad Juan Pablo Montoya is OK, and thank him for his concern."