Book excerpt: In a sport known for its brash personalities, risk-takers, and speed demons, Matt Kenseth is something of an oddity. He is the perfect illustration of the truism that “Slow and steady in the race.” Known as a conservative driver who plays clean, drives patiently, and slowly but relentlessly moves to the front of the pack, Kenseth is routinely in the Top 15 race finishers and near the top of the NASCAR Cup series point totals, even though he wins few races outright. In fact, in 2003 he earned the Winston Cup Championship even though he won only one race that season. Though a quiet, steady, unassuming presence on and off the track, he has had his share of dust-ups with leading NASCAR drivers like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Kevin Harvick. Quiet and conservative, but no push over, Kenseth prefers to prove his mettle on the track.