NASCAR With huge points lead, Kenseth can play it safe

Matt Kenseth's season has mirrored his low-key personality.
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- At this point, everyone is racing for second place in Winston Cup.
Matt Kenseth has built a commanding lead in the season standings and can afford to play it safe over the final eight races, beginning with the EA Sports 500 today at Talladega Superspeedway.
Don't make any major mistakes. Bring the car home in one piece. Pick up the trophy and the big check.
"Matt has such a big lead," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is fourth in the standings, a whopping 490 points behind Kenseth. "It's already time to start preparing for next year."
This isn't what NASCAR had in mind when it came up with a points system that rewarded consistency and was supposed to ensure a tight battle for the championship right down to the final race.
If this keeps up, Kenseth could clinch the title with at least two races remaining. The championship chase hasn't ended that early since 1994, when the late Dale Earnhardt wrapped up the last of his seven championships at Rockingham, with races at Phoenix and Atlanta still remaining.
Way back today
Kenseth will start 37th at Talladega after a poor run in qualifying forced him to take a provisional place in the 43-car Talladega field.
It shouldn't matter. By the time the green flag waves, Kenseth will likely find the speed he needs, patiently work his way toward the front and be among the lead pack by the time the checkered flag comes out. He may not win, but he doesn't need to.
"Week in and week out, he's been at the front of the field in the top five or top 10," said Kevin Harvick, second in the standings with a 436-point deficit to make up. "He's had a season that's pretty remarkable when you sit down and really look at it."
Indeed, no one has been more consistent than Kenseth, a top 10 finisher in 22 of 28 races. He seems to have settled into a comfortable groove, placing no lower than 14th in the last 19 events. At this point, Harvick could win the last eight races, pick up the maximum number of points and still finish second if Kenseth averaged a top 10 showing the rest of the way.
Low-key personality
The leader's season has mirrored his low-key personality. While the other young guns such as Harvick and Kurt Busch are bold and brash, Kenseth has flown below the radar with nary a hint of controversy.
He's also managed only one victory all year, way back in the third race of the season at Las Vegas. Ryan Newman, who is fifth in the standings, has won seven times. Four other drivers are multiple winners. All are looking up to Mr. Consistency.
Is this any way to crown a champion?
"I've heard a lot about the points and how big Matt's lead is and how the point system is screwed up," Harvick said. "You can put it all in perspective if you look at the points chart. His worst finish has been 22nd at Martinsville. After that, he hasn't finished worse than 14th. There is nothing wrong with a point system for a guy who's had an incredible season."
Harvick, who also has only one victory, refused to endorse a change in the points structure that would put more emphasis on winning races.
"We've got a guy who hasn't had any trouble and he's running away with the points race," Harvick said. "He's had basically the perfect season. And then you've got Ryan, who has won seven races and led a bunch of laps. But he's had [five races he didn't finish]. That's not a perfect season."