BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Matt Kenseth's season was in shambles two months ago, his chances of racing for the Nextel Cup title slim to none.

A frantic late-season surge has changed everything.

Kenseth used his first victory in more than a year to inch closer to the Chase for the championship, winning at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night in dominating fashion.

Kenseth started from the pole and led a whopping 415 of the 500 laps to win for the first time since March 7, 2004. After struggling for more than a year, Kenseth has turned it on the past two months and vaulted from 20th in the standings to 11th.

Jeff Burton was second and was followed by Greg Biffle and Ricky Rudd.

Rusty Wallace, in his final race at his favorite race track, finished fifth. Wallace is retiring at the end of the season and had hoped to mark his final Bristol race with a win. Instead, he leaves with nine wins, most among NASCAR's active drivers.  More