EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED; Matt Kenseth clinches the Cup with one race to go.(Motorsports)

Byline: AL PEARCE

Matt Kenseth didn't know how to act or what to say. No surprise there, since he never expected to be embracing the Winston Cup and flashing the "We're No. 1'' finger in the gathering gloom at Rockingham. In his mind, you see, he was just another humble, low-profile, low- maintenance Wisconsin short-track racer who lucked into a sweet deal several years ago. There he was, the most unlikely NASCAR champion since the late Alan Kulwicki won the title in 1992.

"This is unbelievable. It's beyond my wildest dreams,'' said Kenseth, after clinching the 2003 title. "I never thought I'd have the opportunity to even sit in one of these cars, much less be the champion. There are thousands of drivers out here who could do a better job than I have. I'm really so appreciative, because not many people get this kind of opportunity in their life.''

The long-anticipated (we called it in July) became official when Kenseth finished fourth in the Pop Secret 400. Needing only seventh to clinch, he reached the top-10 at lap 230 and the top-five at 240. He finished the 393-lapper with an insurmountable 226-point lead to become owner Jack Roush's first Cup champion since coming to NASCAR in 1988.

Roush and lead driver Mark Martin finished second in Cup points in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002. They lost the '90 Cup by fewer points than NASCAR took in an early-season penalty, and a late-season penalty last year erased yet another bid. "I'm not going back and regurgitate or revisit the frustrations of the past,'' Roush said at the North Carolina Speedway. "I'm happy that whatever I had going against me-whether it was between my ears or a dark cloud-didn't get passed on to Matt. I'm glad we're through it and hope we don't ...