BROOKLYN, Mich. - Matt Kenseth could skip this Sunday's Sirius Satellite 400 at Michigan International Speedway, and he still would be the leader of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series point standings.
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But would anyone notice?
Not since Dale Earnhardt led the standings by 213 points in 1990 has a driver enjoyed such a healthy lead in the rankings after 14 races. Kenseth's 176-point lead already has lapped the field in the race for the championship. And if he stays on his pace of finishing in the top 10 in 12 out of every 14 races, he could turn the 2003 season into one of the biggest racing blowouts of all time.
But would anyone notice?
Kenseth's success, so far, has remained well below the public's radar. He's never said a disapproving word about another driver; he's never been on the cover of Rolling Stone; he's never used his front bumper in anger, and he's never been in NASCAR's doghouse.
While the public remains more enamored by Earnhardt Jr.'s lineage and lifestyle, Jeff Gordon's divorce and Tony Stewart's tantrums, Kenseth has steadfastly and quietly stockpiled one top-10 finish after another to have a lot more than breathing room heading into the next race.
Sometimes, good guys do finish first.
"I'm comfortable with where I am now," Kenseth said, "and I couldn't ask for anything more. We had a pretty good last year. I'm on a great team and my equipment is good. I have no desire to be in the spotlight, except in my racing."
Kenseth led the sport with five victories last year, but only a few noticed because he also failed to finish three races to wind up eighth in the standings. His lone win this year came at Las Vegas, but he remains one of only five full-time drivers who have finished every race. His worst finish was a 22nd at Martinsville, Va. - the only time all year he's failed to finish on the lead lap.
Nothing flashy, but completely effective.
"So far, we haven't had any parts break - knock on wood - and we've been running at the end of the races and I've been lucky not to tear anything up," Kenseth said.
The biggest difference between last year and now are races at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. In the four races at those two tracks - races that require a speed-reducing restrictor plate - 20-car crashes are commonplace. Kenseth was involved in three pileups a year ago in four races. This year, he's been scratch-free in two restrictor plate starts.
"I feel really good about where we are, but there's a lot of racing to do," Kenseth said. "As we all know, everything can change in one race, so we've just got to keep working hard and do the best we can do. To finish first, first you have to finish."
History proves Kenseth correct. In the year Earnhardt had the biggest lead after 14 races since the sport went to the modern era in 1972, he wound up beating Mark Martin - who now is a co-owner with Jack Roush on Kenseth's car - by just 26 points. In fact, if Martin hadn't been penalized 35 points for an illegal engine part, Earnhardt, despite his series-best nine victories - would have finished second in the 1990 rankings.
Kenseth finished second to Earnhardt Jr. twice on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit, but he's had the upper hand since they both moved to Winston Cup in 2000. Kenseth beat his friend for the rookie of the year title in 2000, and he's finished ahead of him in two out of three times. Earnhardt Jr. has eight career victories; Kenseth has seven. Now they're one-two in the current standings.
"We've been keeping him in sight and that's all we can do all year long to stay in the points battle," Earnhardt Jr. said.
Earnhardt Jr. is one of the few who seems to be keeping Kenseth in sight. And that's just fine with Kenseth.
"I don't know if I'm a household name or not," Kenseth said.
A championship would change all that.
But would anyone notice?
