Kenseth exits race early at Las Vegas

Matt Kenseth’s date with destiny Sunday ended early at the Sprint Cup Shelby 427 auto race in Las Vegas when he left after six laps with mechanical failure.

Kenseth had been a surprise winner at the series’ first two races this season — the rain-shortened Daytona 500 and the Auto Club 500.

Sunday, he was trying to become NASCAR’s first driver with three consecutive victories to start a season, but he drove his No. 17 Ford Fusion down pit road after a caution was called just two laps into the race.

His crew was unable to identify the source of the car’s problems, and Kenseth later had to exit.

(The car) quit making power and it started sounding funny, he said. You know when something is wrong. It’s disappointing no matter what.

Kenseth’s victory last Sunday was the 18th of his Sprint Cup career.

Kyle Busch won Sunday’s race ahead of Clint Bowyer.