ROCKINGHAM, N.C., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Defending series champion Matt Kenseth edged rookie Kasey Kahne by one hundredth of a second to win Sunday's NASCAR Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway.
A race that lasted over 3 1/2 hours featured a dramatic final 20 laps as Kenseth, in his Roush Racing Ford Taurus, tried to hold off the Dodge Intrepids of Kahne and Jamie McMurray.
The pursuers pulled up to Kenseth's bumper in the closing laps before Kahne made a bid for victory in the third turn, taking the low line of the 1.017-mile speedway. Kenseth's high line gave enough momentum to put the front of his car about one foot ahead of Kahne's bumper.
McMurray was the leader after the two cars in front of him pitted but neither Kenseth nor Kahne lost a lap.
Kenseth, who won just once last year en route to the series title, averaged 112.012 miles per hour.
