Once again, sorry I’m late. I celebrated my 15th birthday (Yes, I’m a teenager) and I got my learners permit. Then I darn near threw up in fear when my dad let me drive part of the way home. Then I enjoyed the rest of the day. Has anyone ever seen Brooklyn? I’m not a romantic movie fanatic, but I enjoy that one.

Anyway, back to important topics. Jimmie Johnson won the pole, led the first lap, and promptly disappeared for the rest of the race. He was replaced up front by Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., who led a combined 256 0f 301 laps. So obviously there was very little change up front for most of the race.

During the first half of the race, the only break in the action was the competition caution at lap 35 and a spin by Chris Buescher on lap 101. During this time Busch and Truex swapped the lead back and forth, and it seemed the two would be the only ones vying for the win. But New Hampshire has a mean curveball, and it loves to throw it.

On lap 215 a debris caution flew, and this erased the lead Truex and Busch had. Then, after the restart, Matt Kenseth blew past Busch, and began stalking Truex. It took a while, but on lap 251, Kenseth passed Truex in turn 1. Suddenly, Truex, who had been dominating, had been dethroned.

Then, on lap 263, a caution for debris flew. Apparently it was a driver’s water bottle. Go figure. Everyone but Denny Hamlin came to pit road, and Truex suddenly had the heartbreak everyone was waiting for. His shifter broke, and he was left in 4th gear, and no way out of it.

On the restart, Truex dropped like a rock, and drivers scrambled to dodge him, and in the process Chase Elliot sustained damage. A little while after, Kenseth retook the lead from Denny Hamlin, and not long after that, Chase Elliot and substitute teammate Alex Bowman both cut tires and wrecked.

On this restart, more chaos ensued. Ryan Newman collided with Carl Edwards, who hit Kasey Kahne, who spun up the track and clipped Kyle Larson, sending him spinning. Once again, the field lined up to restart, now with 11 laps to go. By this time Truex was at the tail of the field.

Joey Logano was second after the restart, but obviously no match for Kenseth. But someone else was a match for Logano. Tony Stewart, who had hung out behind the leaders all race long, suddenly found speed in his car, and managed to out duel Logano for second. Had the race had ten more laps, there may have been a tight battle for the win, but Kenseth was to far ahead for Tony to catch in just 4 laps.

Kenseth won his second race of the year, his third at New Hampshire, and yet another for Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart came home second, his 3rd top-five in 4 races. Smoke is rising, no doubt about it. It was a good win for Kenseth, although it may be a bittersweet memory, because the no. 20 failed post race laser inspection, costing the team 15 points.

note: 2 more races without a new winner, and Tony Stewart is secure in the Chase so long as he stays in the top-30 in points, which he is as of now. In fact, he is so far in right now, it wouldn’t be easy to fall out of the top-30.