Title: 100th start article
colleen313 - September 19, 2006 02:53 AM (GMT)
From Doverspeedway.com:
| QUOTE |
DOVER, Del. — Kasey Kahne, one of NASCAR’s most popular young drivers, will make his 100th career start at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, September 24, 2006. This accomplishment is the latest in a string of career milestones for the 26-year-old Enumclaw, Wash. native.
“It doesn’t seem like that many starts. I guess that’s because I enjoy what I do. I want to race,” said Kahne. “The 36-race season takes a toll. We’re racing February to November. However, when the season is over, in a couple of weeks I’m ready to go again, ready for Daytona.”
Although Kahne is young and fairly new to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit, he is already a consistent fan favorite everywhere he goes. Most of his fame can be attributed to his on-track prowess, compiling awards and statistics comparable to great drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.
Kasey Kahne - through 99 Cup races
6 wins
10 poles
42 top-10 starts
27 top-5 finishes
36 top-10 finishes
37 races led
1,628 laps led
Jimmie Johnson - through 99 Cup races
10 wins
7 poles
50 top-10 Starts
35 top-5 finishes
57 top-10 finishes
50 races led
2,480 laps led
Jeff Gordon - through 99 Cup races
12 wins
10 poles
63 top-10 starts
35 top-5 finishes
52 top-10 finishes
64 races led
3,771 laps led
Tony Stewart - through 99 Cup races
12 wins
4 poles
45 Top-10 starts
37 Top-5s
62 Top-10s
42 Races Led
2,778 Laps Led
Few rookies impacted the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series the way Kahne did in 2004. In his first season with Evernham Motorsports, Kahne had 13 top-five finishes and four poles. He finished 13th in the season point standings and easily claimed the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title. In May 2005, Kahne started on the pole and won at Richmond International Raceway for his first ever Cup victory.
“My rookie season was unreal. When I was chosen by Ray (Evernham) to replace Bill (Elliott) in the No. 9, I knew I was getting in a great car. But I didn’t expect to get off to the kind of start we had with all the second-place finishes,” said Kahne of his early success.
After that breakout rookie campaign, Kahne and his team struggled to make the same impact on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit during his sophomore season. “Although I got my first career (Cup) victory last year at Richmond, it was a disappointing season overall based on our expectations and what we had done the year before,” said Kahne. “All teams had to deal with NASCAR’s new spoiler rule and change in the tire compound. We also had the new Dodge Charger. It just took a little longer than expected to sort things out. We had some good runs, but not the consistency needed to challenge for wins each week and earn a spot in the Chase.”
This season Kahne and the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge team have experienced a return to form. Kahne has started on the pole four times, notching five wins, nine top-5 and 14 top-10 finishes. Kahne’s continued success propelled him into the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship, as he was able to secure the 10th and final position in the Chase with a third place finish during the last race of the regular season.
“The last four races we were points racing as hard as anybody, but we were also racing for wins as hard as anybody,” said Kahne. “There was nobody else on the track trying to lead more laps than I was at those races.
“This has been a very good season for the No. 9 team. There were crew changes made at Evernham Motorsports in the off-season. Kenny (Francis, team director), Mike (Shiplett, car director) and Keith (Rodden, engineer) came over to the No. 9 team from the No. 19, said Kahne. “We went to work doing a lot of testing in the off-season. The communication has been great. It’s like Kenny and I have been working together all along.”
In June 2006, after starting 26th, Kahne enjoyed his best run at the Monster Mile, finishing seventh in the Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America.
“I definitely enjoy driving Dover. It’s one of those tracks that you really attack,” says Kahne. “I thought we had that first win at Dover (2004). We had a great car and I was leading late in the race when a car in front of me dropped oil on the track. I didn’t see it. When my tires hit it, the car came around and hit the wall. We just missed making the Chase that year, but won Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. When we return to Dover in September, we will be racing for the win.”
This time around, Kahne will also be racing for the championship, and considering his late season success, may be considered one of the favorites to win it all. “I think the last month we’ve been able to really do a good job in practice and talk to Kenny about what the car’s doing and what I need to do better to be fast in the race,” he said. “I feel like the last four races I’ve figured out how I want the car at different race track because every track is a little different. If I can keep that up in the final 10 it’ll help a lot in the point standings.”
So far in 2006, Kahne has collected more wins than any other driver in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Kahne believes that the consistency his team has shown this year is the reason they are in the Chase. “You have to finish. You can’t go out there and try to make a pass too early and spin out or something like that,” he said. “You have to make it when you can clear the guy and when you know you can pass him and not get in a bad situation.”
And it all started for Kahne not that long ago. In 2000, Steve Lewis, who once employed Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, offered Kahne a sprint, midget and Silver Crown deal. In his first season, he garnered the USAC Silver Crown Rookie-of-the-Year awards, and both the USAC Midget Series Champion and Driver of the Year honors.
He won the "Night Before The 500" Classic at O’Reily Raceway Park in Indianapolis in 2000 and 2001, becoming the first driver to post back-to-back victories in the annual event since Gordon did so in 1989 and 1990.
Kahne moved to the NASCAR scene in 2002, running a limited Busch Series in preparation for a full Busch schedule in 2003. He ended the 2003 season in exciting fashion, notching his first NASCAR win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In addition to his win, he had one pole, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes en route to a seventh-place finish in the NASCAR Busch Series standings.
Now in his third year of racing in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, Kahne knows what is expected of him and has his sights set on a championship. “You have to stay focused all season. That’s the only way you’re going to win the NEXTEL Cup,” said Kahne.
The September 2006 race weekend includes the Sunday, Sept. 24 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race, the Saturday, Sept. 23 NASCAR Busch Series race, and the Friday, Sept. 22 NASCAR Busch East Series race. Great seats for the entire race weekend are still available and can be obtained by calling 800-441-RACE or online by clicking here. |
kimmerlh - September 19, 2006 03:00 AM (GMT)
WHOO!
so excited, and so wish i was going to Dover!
~*Diana*~ - September 19, 2006 05:01 AM (GMT)
Wow already his 100th start! Hopefully that start at Dover will lead to a win! :checkered That was a great article, thanks for posting it!
Princess_Sara400 - September 19, 2006 05:04 AM (GMT)
If he wins I will definately cry. Cause my birthday is Monday. That would be the best birthday present in the world
Court - September 19, 2006 05:09 AM (GMT)
Woo hoo!
Great article.. thanks for posting!!
kaseys_ky_girl9 - September 19, 2006 05:54 AM (GMT)
Aw, I loved that article. I'm ready for this weekend! Go Kasey!
KKAngel9 - September 19, 2006 06:53 AM (GMT)
Awesome article and yay for his 100th start! I hope things go well for him this weekend.
Scrapbookgirl9 - September 19, 2006 11:48 AM (GMT)
awwww I love that article
best line is this, yet at the same time a bad line.....
| QUOTE |
| Most of his fame can be attributed to his on-track prowess, compiling awards and statistics comparable to great drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson |
I like the first part, but hmmmm......I don't like that most article writers only want to compare them to drivers of now, what about great drivers of the past? i know stats wise you can't really compare as much but you can still compare to an extent.
Melissa - September 19, 2006 01:03 PM (GMT)
Oh yes, his popularity can definitely be attributed to his racing prowess. It is so nice to read that.
:gokasey2
Katie9 - September 19, 2006 01:46 PM (GMT)
Woohoo!!
I'm even more excited for this weekend since it's his 100th start!!
Scrapbookgirl9 - September 19, 2006 03:04 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Katie9 @ Sep 19 2006, 09:46 AM) |
Woohoo!!
I'm even more excited for this weekend since it's his 100th start!! |
I'm just depressed that I gotta work...originally I was off, but then they changed the schedule and now I gotta work
I'm gonna miss all the action of his 100th start, my coworker is not going to be able to stand me cause I'm gonna be so antsy all day!
Melissa - September 19, 2006 04:59 PM (GMT)
I AM OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kahne krazy - September 19, 2006 06:46 PM (GMT)
Wow 100 starts!! Go Kasey!! Hopefully it will be a lucky 100!!!
Heather - September 19, 2006 09:54 PM (GMT)
awesome 100 starts!! go kasey!! i'm excited :nan2
racefan9 - September 19, 2006 09:58 PM (GMT)
Congrats to Kasey on his 100th start!
JanvierFireChick43-2 - September 19, 2006 10:16 PM (GMT)
aww goddamn i was supposed to go too, now i'm pissed man.. i really wanted to go for this. :(
haha.. i know what i can do. get my golf cart and start driving down there.. it's an hour and 1/2 from me and the golf cart goes about 15mph i might make it there by sunday :lmbo
Krista - September 19, 2006 10:27 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (JanvierFireChick43-2 @ Sep 19 2006, 05:16 PM) |
aww goddamn i was supposed to go too, now i'm pissed man.. i really wanted to go for this. :(
haha.. i know what i can do. get my golf cart and start driving down there.. it's an hour and 1/2 from me and the golf cart goes about 15mph i might make it there by sunday :lmbo |
:lmao Great article. Wish I was going to be there. Anyway congrats to Kasey on his 100th start.
AmeriKahneGirl924 - September 20, 2006 11:34 AM (GMT)
smokeyslost - September 20, 2006 03:35 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (kahne krazy @ Sep 19 2006, 01:46 PM) |
| Wow 100 starts!! Go Kasey!! Hopefully it will be a lucky 100!!! |
the stars are lined up to avenge his first cup start at Dover.
LittleManFan - September 21, 2006 11:44 PM (GMT)
:ya Great article!! Grab that win, Kasey!!!
Martz - September 22, 2006 12:24 AM (GMT)
:nan2 :banyay :na :nan2 :banyay :na
Word.
Mist - September 24, 2006 01:22 PM (GMT)
ArticleKasey Kahne ; 100 starts and counting - Dover Conversation
Friday, 22 September 2006
KASEY KAHNE (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger)
NOTE: In the past five races since Michigan on Aug. 20, Kahne has scored more points than any driver except Matt Kenseth. Kenseth has 807 points during that five-race stretch, while Kahne has 762. Kevin Harvick is third with 753.
ARE THE 48 AND 5 IN TROUBLE YET? “I don’t know. I’d say probably not, but you can’t have any more bad races. We had a real good car at New Hampshire and ended up 16th, so that wasn’t a great race or a bad race for us. We’ve got to run in the top 10 in the rest of the races.”
HOW MANY MULLIGANS CAN YOU HAVE IN THE CHASE? “It depends on how you do after your mulligan. If you win seven races and have three mulligans you’ll still come pretty close to winning the championship. Otherwise you’re going to have to be consistent, and I don’t think anyone is going to win seven races. I’d say one (mulligan), maybe two, but probably just one.”
DO YOU THINK TEAMS PLAY MIND GAMES? “I’m not real sure. I know at Evernham Motorsports we all work together really well and don’t have to worry about mind games or anything. We’ll just find out how they run the rest of the year and see what happens.”
COMMENT ON DOVER “I always like racing here. It’s a good track for The Chase. It’s a fun track to drive. It’s fast. It’s not a big track. It’s enjoyable. I think we should have a good race this weekend.”
IS IT HARD TO MAKE UP GROUND AT DOVER? “You just never know. Sometimes things will happen to three or four guys and sometimes things won’t happen to anybody. You don’t know how it’s going to play out. It’s a track where you can get caught up in other people’s wrecks. You slide down the hill and it’s easy to grab cars. I hope to stay up front and not have too many problems. It’s a fun track to race on for sure. Qualifying is huge. Track position is really big late in the race, but qualifying is big because there’s only two good pit stalls in the whole place. You can get trapped in easily and lose spots in the pits. That was our big deal last week. Martin trapped me in on the final stop, so we were screwed at that point. We lost five spots and had two tires. Most cars got four tires. We got screwed up there. This is a track where we need to qualify first or second and you’ll be better off the rest of the weekend.”
DO YOU LOOK AT YOUR AVERAGE FINISHES HERE OR LOOK MORE AT YOUR PERFORMANCE IN JUNE? “You look more at June or you look more at the way your race team has been the last month. The way they’re figuring out certain setups for this time of the year. It’s kind of like the track changes all year long with the weather and it matters how well you’re running at that time of the year.”
WHAT’S YOUR MINDSET COMING INTO THIS WEEKEND? “We need to get some points back. I think we can win. I think we can run up front. I think we can be one of the cars to beat all weekend long. You don’t know until the race comes, but I think we definitely have the cars and team to do it.
I’m racing my favorite car. We haven’t raced it since the All-Star race, and I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s one of the best cars they’ve built all year long. We just only got to race it once. We had the All-Star race won if I had not crashed there racing with Mark. I was 10 times faster than Mark Martin that day. I just let him get too close to me and ended up crashing and taking him out, too. That’s just part of it, but I had a good car. It was pretty beat up and it just got repaired.”HOW DO YOU FEEL AFTER FIRST CHASE RACE? “I felt good. To make it in and be happy and excited for everybody, I felt great. I think it’s the perfect time of the season. I feel the best I’ve ever felt. Being my third year, this is the best I’ve ever felt going into the last nine races for sure.”
WHAT DO YOU WORK ON NOW? “I think just being consistent and focusing hard through all these races and not making mistakes whether it’s on the track, pit road, following the wrong car when you’re in traffic and losing two or three spots – just doing everything right. This is a tough place. It can get you really quick. We’ll stay focused and try not to make mistakes. We need to get all the points possible and not lose anymore.”
COMMENT ON MAKING YOUR 100TH CUP START ON SUNDAY “I just found out about that yesterday. I didn’t know anything about that. It would be nice to win your 100th race, I know that. To have 100 is pretty cool, but plenty of guys have a lot more than that.” ARE YOU GOING FOR 1000? “I don’t know about that. That’s a lot.” :)
Scrapbookgirl9 - September 24, 2006 02:35 PM (GMT)
I love that boy!
I think he's gonna go out there and show them all these last 9 races......
starting today its 110 points, 9 races......he's made up 90 in 2, he can def go get that championship for sure!
And ohhh the All-star race car.......that car did look awesome at the Allstar race so I have no doubt its an awesome car!