Richard Petty, (1973) Daytona & Richmond, 23rd at Rockingham in 3rd race
Cale Yarborough, (1977) Daytona & Richmond, 6th at Rockingham
Jeff Gordon (1997), Daytona & Rockingham, 4th at Richmond
Also Kenseth is the fifth driver to win the first two races of the season
Marvin Panch (1957), Lancaster & Concord, 3rd at Titusville
Bob Welborn (1959), Fayetteville & Daytona Qual Race [points race then], 41st Daytona 500, started from pole
David Pearson (1976), Riverside & Daytona 500, 29th at Rockingham
Jeff Gordon (1997), Daytona & Rockingham, 4th at Richmond
no driver has won the first three races of the season and no driver has won the next two races after the Daytona 500. The last driver to win three races in a row was Jimmie Johnson in 2007 when he won four in a row at Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix late in the season and during the Chase.
SPONSORS? and no driver has won three straight races at all in the modern ear [1972-present, many teams didn’t have sponsors like they do now before then] with three DIFFERENT sponsors: DeWalt at Daytona, Carhartt at Auto Club and USG at Las Vegas. See the list of drivers who have won 3 or more races in a row on my All-Time/Active Wins page.(2-26/28-2009)
UPDATE: #17-Kenseth lost an engine early in the race and finished 43rd at Las vegas.(3-1-2009)