BRISTOL, Tenn. --Matt Kenseth needed a Bristol win last year to maintain any chance of making the Chase for the championship.

His repeat win this year locked him into the playoffs, and possibly made him the driver to beat.

Kenseth continued his momentum-building run toward the Chase on Saturday night by winning at Bristol Motor Speedway -- his third consecutive NASCAR victory.

"If we can go into the Chase like this, we'll have a shot at the championship,'' he said. "The guys are operating at a championship level. I was worried about going into the Chase and not running good. But this is what it's about, bringing your best piece and go there and try to win some races.''

His fourth win of the season clinched him a spot in NASCAR's 10-race playoff format, which begins Sept. 17 in New Hampshire.

It also showed he's peaking at the perfect time. Tony Stewart got hot midway through the summer last year and streaked to his second Nextel Cup title.

Now Kenseth, winner of three straight NASCAR races, hopes to do the same. He is the first driver since the late Dale Earnhardt in 1987-88 to win the Bristol night race in back-to-back seasons.

"I feel like we're definitely a contender,'' Kenseth said. "But in this business, you've got to prove your worth each and every week. We have been taking it one week at a time and putting forth 100 percent effort each and every race.''

Kenseth passed leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. with just over 50 miles to go, running him down and then sliding past when Earnhardt appeared to slow coming out of the fourth turn. There was no looking back from there for Kenseth, the 2003 series champion.

NASCAR changed the title-crowning format after Kenseth's championship, and he hasn't contended under the new format. He used a win here last August to highlight a frantic rally to make the Chase, but faded when the playoffs began.