KASEY KAHNE IN TROUBLE AFTER POCONO WRECK

Kasey Kahne

Aug. 6, 2015 – Kasey Kahne wrecked on Lap 4 at Pocono and could not get back out on the track, dooming him to a 43rd-place finish. Fifteenth on the Chase Grid prior to the race, 50 points above the cutoff line, Kahne is now 16th, 25 points above the cutoff line.

Although Kahne holds the 16th and final spot right now, he will get bumped if/when Kyle Busch enters the top 30 in points. As it stands now, Kahne would trail Clint Bowyer by 15 points for the final Chase spot.

If the season ended today, the following winless drivers 11th-16th on the Chase Grid would make NASCAR’s playoffs: 11. Jamie McMurray (+97) 12. Jeff Gordon (+83) 13. Paul Menard (+57) 14. Ryan Newman (+50) 15. Bowyer (+40) 16. Kahne (+25). McMurray and Menard would make the Chase for the first time in their careers.

Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing Try To Break Owner Wins Tie At Watkins Glen International
Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have been dominant at Watkins Glen International, with each team earning a record six wins at the track – twice as many as any other owner.

The two organizations will try to snap the tie in Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen. HMS has won at the 2.45-mile road course with Tim Richmond (1986), Ricky Rudd (1990) and Jeff Gordon (1997-99, 2001). JGR has placed two drivers in Victory Lane: Tony Stewart (2002, 2004-5, 2007) and Kyle Busch (2008, 2013).

EARNHARDT HOPES TO REDISCOVER MAGIC AFTER DECADE-LONG ‘DEGA DROUGHT

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

October 15, 2014 – Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson are not the only pre-Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup favorites in danger of missing the eight-driver Eliminator Round. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is also in a near must-win situation as he enters Sunday’s Geico 500 cutoff race at Talladega (2 p.m. ET on ESPN) ranking 12th (of 12), 26 points behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne for the final advancing spot.

Barring epic collapses from the drivers ahead of him, Earnhardt has to win on Sunday to move onward in the Chase. NASCAR fans thumbing through the record books might see Earnhardt has won five times at Talladega and think he should be a heavy favorite this weekend. Upon further review, they will notice he hasn’t seen victory lane at ’Dega in more than a decade (Oct. 3, 2004).

During his 19-race ’Dega drought, Earnhardt has recorded a respectable six top-10 finishes, including two runner-ups, the most recent in last fall’s Talladega tussle. The stretch pales in comparison to his three-year, seven-race run (2001-04) at Talladega when he notched a track-record four consecutive victories, followed by two straight runner-up finishes and a fifth checkered flag.

Earnhardt will attempt to rekindle some of his old Talladega magic to make up for a pair of tough-luck performances in the first two races of the Eliminator Round. He was leading the opener at Kansas for 45 laps until he hit the wall on the 122nd go-around, causing him to finish 39th. In the second event at Charlotte, Earnhardt could not overcome an issue with his shifter as he took 20th-place.

A rejuvenated Earnhardt has notched three victories this year, as many as he has accumulated in his last eight seasons combined. His highest Chase finish was a third-place result in 2003.

 

 

DRIVE FOR FIVE STARTS FOR FOUR

Aric Almirola

October 01, 2014 – The Monster Mile shattered the hopes and dreams of four former Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers at Dover.

AJ Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch were all eliminated from Chase contention following the last race of the opening Challenger Round as the field shrunk from 16 to 12.

Going into the race, Allmendinger stood in good shape to advance to the Contender Round. He ranked 10th on the Chase Grid, one point ahead of Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman, and seven points ahead of 13th-place Denny Hamlin for the final spot. Biffle (-6 points below the cutoff), Busch (-8) and Almirola (-10) were all on the outside looking in, manning the 14th-16th positions respectively, but still had realistic chances of climbing into the top 12.

Hamlin – who earlier dubbed the race as the most important of his career – vaulted himself into the top 12 with an 11th-place finish, but his performance alone was not enough to bump the 23rd-place Allmendinger from the Chase. Kasey Kahne battled from four laps down on Lap 240, finishing 20th to hold off Allmendinger by two points for the final Contender Round spot.

The four now have a new goal: Fifth place. Even though they were bounced in the first round, Allmendinger, Almirola, Biffle and Busch can still battle for fifth in the final championship points. From here on out, any driver eliminated from the Chase will have his points reset to 2,000, with any points accumulated during the Chase (as well as bonus points to start the Chase) added to that total.

 

ELEVENTH HEAVEN: WHO’S NEXT?

Kahne is strong at Kentucky, finishing second there in 2012

June 26, 2014 – Ten is a ubiquitous number this week. There are 10 races left, and 10 different tracks. Up to this point, there have been 10 different winners – and 10 drivers who are thus virtually locked into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

But there are way more than 10 drivers who want to make ‘11’ the number on everyone’s mind – as in ‘11th different driver to win in 2014.’

There are plenty of candidates. Last year during this upcoming 10-race stretch, there were five winners who have so far gone winless in 2014 – Matt Kenseth (twice, at Kentucky and Bristol), Brian Vickers (New Hampshire), Ryan Newman (Indianapolis) and Kasey Kahne (Pocono).

Any one of those talents could conceivable grab the win this Saturday night at Kentucky. We’ve already touched on Kenseth and Newman (page 1) and Vickers (about four inches above this sentence). Now, Kahne…

Though overshadowed thus far by fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (all of whom have combined to win six races), Kahne’s season hasn’t really been all that bad – especially lately.

Kahne finished fifth at Michigan and sixth at Sonoma to move up to 16th in points – and a spot out of the Chase bubble (Kurt Busch, currently 26th in points, would bump Kahne out thanks to his win at Martinsville).

Kahne is strong at Kentucky, finishing second there in 2012.

 

AT POCONO, KAHNE IS ABLE

Kasey Kahne

It took one lap to realize something was wrong

June 04, 2014 – Last June, Kasey Kahne took the green flag to start the 160-lap race. Seconds later, a vibration rattled his No. 5 Chevrolet, forcing Kahne to take it to the garage after one lap for what was diagnosed as a problematic U-joint.

Any shot at victory was over. And it was too bad. He probably would’ve won.

Once the problem was fixed, Kahne came back to the track and tallied more fastest laps than anyone in the race (51) – despite a 36th-place finish. A couple months later, he won at Pocono.

What could’ve been …

Kahne has now gone 28 starts without a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, dating back to his August win in Pocono. He led 66 laps en route to his 16th career win that race, and if not for the aforementioned mechanical troubles in the June Pocono event, may have swept the two Pocono events

In 20 starts at Pocono, Kahne has two Coors Light Poles, two wins, five top fives and seven top 10s.

It would behoove Kahne to recapture that Pocono glory. Currently 18th in points and without a victory, he’s on the outside looking in, in regards to a potential spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. A win, of course, would all but lock him in.

Credit: NASCAR

 

 

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE /THANKAMILLONTEACHERS.COM CHEVROLET SS QUALIFIED 3RD

Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance/Thankamillionteachers.Com Chevrolet SS qualified 3rd Thursday, May 22, 2014 for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Kahne is 16th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) standings. (HHP/Alan Marler for Chevrolet)

HOW IS YOUR CAR FOR THIS WEEKEND?

“So far so good we just ran qualifying stuff today.  600 miles and limits on engines we want to run as much as we can Saturday, longer runs and things to make sure we have the car right for Sunday night.  It felt pretty good in qualifying, just seemed to give up a little bit getting into Turn 3.  All three of my runs I wasn’t able to get to the white line quite as quickly as I would have liked.  We were working on that and just trying to keep the car in the track.  I was a little bit free throughout the laps.  I figured third ended up being pretty good for us.  I was pretty happy with our Farmers Insurance Chevy today.”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS RACE AND IF YOU CARE FOR THE MARATHON ASPECT OF THIS RACE ON SUNDAY?

“I’ve always really enjoyed the 600.  Being able to start usually it’s sunny and hot out and finish at night.  As the cars change the track changes, things like that and just try to keep up with it throughout the race.  It’s a challenge.  So I’ve always enjoyed this race it’s a lot of fun to be a part of each year.  Even before I was in the Sprint Cup Series I remember watching the 600’s.  That was always a big race to watch.  Something I liked we would get people together and do that for this Sunday weekend.  To me it’s a big deal and I enjoy being part of it for sure.”

COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH KENNY (FRANCIS) AND THE KIND OF RAPPORT YOU GUYS HAVE HAD HAS THAT HELPED YOU FIND A STRONG POINT IN THE SEASON RIGHT NOW?

“Well we had to really sit down and talk about things together and get back on the same page.  There were a lot of things we were thinking differently on the first six to seven weeks of the year.  We have spent a lot more time the last month and a half together and figuring this out than what we had early in the year when we were maybe thinking different directions and things with the car, adjustments and set-up’s for each track.  I feel like our relationship is still really good and because we have that we have been able to figure it out and do enough testing and things to get back on track.  The teammates are really good and helpful as well.  But it still wasn’t really just clicking with us this year using their information so we had to figure it out ourselves.  I think we have gotten a lot better since we did that.  Now I think everything is starting to make sense from what all the guys are doing and what we are doing with our car.  It’s much better today than it was a month ago.”

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU MISSED KEITH RODDEN THIS YEAR?

“I mean I miss him some because we were really good friends.  I spent a lot of time with him over the years.  But Chris does a great job as an engineer and the more I’m around Chris the more I understand him and we are building that relationship.  Similar with Kenny over the last month and a half we have had to spend a lot more time together.  Chris is a great guy and just like anyone if you spend time with them and get to know them better and respect the way that they go at their job and things.  It’s good.  I feel like our team is strong and glad Keith is running well as a crew chief and things that he deserves to be.  But I feel like we are in a really good spot with Chris.”

WITH THE NO. 4 AND THE NO. 20 NOT GETTING OUT TO MAKE A LAP HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT COULD BE YOU?

“I mean I guess you are just waiting to try to get the coolest open race track that you can.  For a night like tonight I’m not sure that last 30 seconds how critical that is, but you are looking for an open track as well, so that is what they were doing.  We were really close at Kansas on a second run.  I think we made it by five or six seconds before they threw the red so we got to run that lap.  You definitely push it as close as you can to get your tires cooled off and try to get the coolest race track conditions, but I’m surprised that neither one of them did in this session.  12 cars, five minutes I mean I’m surprised that would definitely not go over well if we missed it.”

 

 

 

 

 

PRESEASON FAVORITES RACING TO REBOUND AFTER DAYTONA

February 26, 2014 – The anticipation and excitement surrounding the season-opening Daytona 500 has been replaced by early-season angst for several drivers who, coming into this season, were considered strong favorites to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and contend for the series championship. Despite the new increased emphasis on winning races, faltering at the 500 will never be easy to accept.

A total of 16 drivers will qualify for the Chase, with race winners in the season’s first 26 races getting first dibs – provided they  are in the top 30 in series points after 26 events. And since there have been two times (1961 and 2003) that there have been more than 15 different winners in the first 26, the points likely will come into play.

Which means, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer are especially looking for strong Phoenix runs. Kahne came out of the 500 mired in 29th in series points; Stewart is 35th; Bowyer is 39th. Kahne had the best starting position of the three (fifth).

Kahne was involved in two accidents that caused the third and fourth cautions of the race; Stewart was hampered by a faulty fuel cell which had to be replaced 130 laps into the 200-lap race; and Bowyer had engine problems and completed only 127 laps.

CHASE CLINCHES: ONE DOWN, 11 TO GO AND A BUNCH MIGHT COME AT BRISTOL

In terms of Chase clinches, expect a few drivers to join Johnson this weekend at Bristol

August 21, 2013 – Jimmie Johnson has stood alone for two weeks as the only driver to clinch a spot in the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Already guaranteed a top-10 spot – and the three bonus points per win that go with it – Johnson will enter the Chase with at least 2,012 points. After race No. 26 at Richmond, all 12 Chase drivers will have their points reset to 2,000, but only the top 10 will have three points added to their total for each victory over the first 26 races. Johnson currently has four victories (both Daytona events, Martinsville and Pocono).

In terms of Chase clinches, expect a few drivers to join Johnson this weekend at Bristol.

Three drivers can clinch a top-10 spot: Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick. The magic number for a top-10 clinch is 97 points; leaving Bristol, anyone 97 points ahead of 11th will clinch a top-10 spot.

Bowyer is currently 113 points ahead of 11th. He is guaranteed to clinch a top-10 spot by finishing 12th or better, or 13th and at least one lap led, or 14th and most laps led. Edwards is currently 103 points ahead of 11th. He is guaranteed a top-10 clinch with a win or runner up; or third and at least one lap led, or fourth and most laps led. Harvick is currently 90 points ahead of 11th. He’ll clinch by improving upon his current cushion by seven points.

A number of drivers can clinch at least a Wild Card spot this weekend. Because they own multiple wins this season, after this weekend, a few drivers could fall out of the top 10 yet still be guaranteed a Wild Card spot after race No. 26. The Wild Card spots go to the two drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

Matt Kenseth, who has four wins but has yet to clinch a top-20 spot, can clinch at least a Wild Card this weekend (a win would guarantee it). The same goes for Kyle Busch (three wins) and Kasey Kahne (two wins).

Source: NASCAR

 

KASEY KAHNE MOTIVATED BY LATE SEASON PRESSURES

Having an insurance policy lessens the immediate pressure

kasey kahne

August 21, 2013 – And if you’re Kasey Kahne with two victories – one of them this spring at Bristol Motor Speedway – this isn’t a week to stress over “will I or won’t I” make the Chase. Kahne and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet are better than 50/50 proposition to make NASCAR’s postseason. They currently hold the first Wild Card entry and stand 11th, four points outside the top 10.

“I’ve (gone) through it; I kind of enjoy it. I kind of enjoy the pressure, like to have to be perfect that weekend, things like that.” said Kahne, who’s finished in the top three six times but has suffered three, accident-caused DNFs.

A year ago, Kahne overcame a difficult early season to make the Chase. He came on strong finishing fourth in the final standings. Kahne sees no reason this can’t happen again – especially if he can keep his Chevrolet SS out of harm’s way.

“It’s a tough part of the season,” he said. “But it’s kind of what we’re all here for, too, to step up when times are tough. I know we have a really strong team. I think we’ll be in a really good spot, must to put those final 10 (races) together. That’s what it’s all about.”

Source: NASCAR

 

BRISTOL NIGHT RACE ON SATURDAY: THE WILD CARD IN THE DECK

At Bristol Motor Speedway, the unpredictability is the only element that’s predictable.

August 21, 2013 – Saturday night’s IRWIN Tools Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC, Performance Racing Network radio, SiriusXM radio) just might be the biggest remaining unknown with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ just three races away.

Bristol’s tall concrete banks well may determine who does or doesn’t qualify for the postseason.

The racing will be close, pressure-packed and physical. Who doesn’t remember Dale Earnhardt “rattling” Terry Labonte’s cage or Tony Stewart’s thrown helmet that bounced off Matt Kenseth’s windshield?

A few drivers – like five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has already clinched a Chase berth – know Bristol’s twists and turns won’t end their championship hopes.

Others – not so much.

Drivers ranked seventh through 11th – Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Kasey Kahne – are separated by just 20 points. Last year’s Bristol night race saw 20 cars finish all 500 laps. Among those finishing off the lead lap was Carl Edwards, who needed a solid finish to close crucial ground on the points leaders.

He didn’t get it and ultimately failed to reach the Chase.

Saturday’s race could be huge for what’s now become a crowded field of four current Chase Wild Card hopefuls scoring victories in 2013. Although Tony Stewart remains eligible by virtue of a top-20 points position, Stewart-Haas Racing has pronounced its injured driver out for the remainder of the year.

Spring Bristol winner Kasey Kahne, attempting to become the first to score a sweep since Kyle Busch in 2009, would virtually lock up one Wild Card spot with his third victory of the year. That might be moot since Kahne is just four points out of the top 10.

The same could be said for Martin Truex Jr., 10 points out of the top 10. Truex finished 12th at Bristol in March and 11th a year ago. The New Jersey native has only two top-five finishes at the track but they are good ones – third in the spring of 2012 and second in the 2011 night race.

Neither Michigan winner Joey Logano nor Indianapolis winner Ryan Newman has been able to score a Bristol victory. Logano’s No. 22 Penske Racing Ford, however, is owned by Roger Penske. Penske Racing is No. 2 in the Bristol win column with 10 trips to Victory Lane – most recently in spring of 2012 with reigning series champion Brad Keselowski.