Putting on one heck of a show in the closing laps of Sunday's Auto Club 500, one would have never guessed that both Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon went winless in 2008. The two former Cup Series champions battled with each other as the laps wound down and the fans rose to their feet. In the end, it was Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth and his "Killer Bees" pit crew that got the job done and took the victory.

Earning his second victory in two weeks, Kenseth became only the fourth driver in NASCAR history to win the Daytona 500 and the very next race.

After coming from the back of the pack in typical Kenseth fashion, the 2003 series champion methodically put himself in contention on the track, while his crew were better than the rest on pit road.

With the race coming to a close and final stops looming, the leaders hit pit road for the final time under the fifth caution of the day. The Drew Blickensderfer-led pit crew changed four tires and fuel and sent their car back on the track out front and in clean air.

"It's these guys behind me," an emotional Kenseth said in victory lane. "They gave me the pit stop and gave me the clean air and that's a huge difference."

In only his second race as a Sprint Cup Series crew chief, Blickensderfer knows he has one of the best teams in the business and is ready to prove they can get the job done week-in and week-out.

"These guys are awesome," crew chief Drew Blickensderfer said after watching his car take the checkered flag for the second time in two weeks. "They're the best in the business. It's a real privilege."

While Kenseth was able to win the Daytona 500 thanks in part to Mother Nature, Sunday's win at the Auto Club Speedway was all Kenseth, crew and car. The driver of the No. 17 Carhartt Ford Fusion led a race-high 84 laps, including the final 48.

Three-time California winner Jeff Gordon filled Kenseth's mirror in the final stages of the event. One of the strongest cars throughout the race, Gordon could taste the win, but could do little as Kenseth never budged. Making a charge for the lead with twenty laps remaining, Gordon was never able to catch the No. 17 to make a move.

"It was a lot of fun. This is a new team and they showed it tonight. We still got a little bit of work to do," runner-up Jeff Gordon explained. "I'm so excited on one side because we ran so good and started off the season so great. But I'm so mad on the other because I think we had what it took to win tonight. Matt Kenseth, got to give those guys a lot of credit on that 17 team."

Despite winning his Gatorade Duel 150 in Daytona, Gordon clearly understands he is still winless in terms of points-paying events. With a strong car underneath him and the leader within striking distance, Gordon did all he could to catch the car in front of him. Working the high line in one and two and the apron through three and four, Gordon smoked his right front until there was nothing left.

"It's bittersweet," Gordon said after coming so close to ending his winless streak. "But, have to come away with this with a lot of positive feelings, because we're a long ways ahead of where we were at this time last year I feel like. Man, I'm pumped. I'm really excited about this whole season."

Two of the best in the business, Kenseth and Gordon have always put on a great show when racing each other for the win. The two have tangled on a number of occasions, but Sunday's race saw a great display of mutual respect between the two former Cup Series champions.

For two drivers that went winless in 2008, both Gordon and Kenseth have come out of the box strong in 2009 and are looking to make a statement. Two wins for Kenseth and two great performances for Gordon has this duo sitting atop the series standings, with Kenseth out front by eighty-one points.

Next week it's off to the bright lights of Las Vegas, where these two got together racing up front last year. The first two races of the 2009 season have showcased great racing and some new - well, old - faces at the front of the field. Be sure to check back to HardcoreRaceFans.com throughout the week to keep up with all the news and notes from the world of NASCAR as the teams prepare to head to Sin City.