Bob Pockrass: Kasey Kahne engine sabotage? Team engine guy says no way
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Richard Petty Motorsports' Kasey Kahne suffered a blown engine in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
COMMENTARY
The conspiracy theorists are out in force, and this time their focus is Kasey Kahne and that Richard Petty Motorsports engine that blew up last weekend at New Hampshire.
It is a little strange that Kahne didn’t have an engine falter all year and had one fail at New Hampshire, a 1.058-mile track where the only other driver to have an engine failure this year was Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr.
It is a little bit of a coincidence that the engine failed a week after many people in the engine shop learned about a potential merger with Yates Racing and that their job situation is iffy at best, considering that Roush Yates Engines are expected to be producing the team’s power plants next year. It wouldn’t be surprising if many guys at the Richard Petty Motorsports engine department are bitter right now, considering how much time and effort they put into the new Dodge engine only to see their Dodge program disappear. Throw in that they certainly could lose their jobs, and you’ve got, what they call “motive.”
But it seems so hard to believe that the broken crankshaft found in the engine afterward could have been the result of sabotage, that someone would actually be so angry that they would send the car up in smoke. It seems hard to believe that an engine that is tinkered with could go 66 laps before expiring. It seems so hard to believe that competitors, people who daily work toward a goal of winning, would do something to keep their team from reaching that goal and risk being blackballed from the sport if caught.
Then again, it’s hard to believe a driver would be told to crash his car on purpose to help a teammate win a race, but that’s what apparently happened in Formula One last year. If a driver is going to wreck a car on purpose, then it seems quite plausible that someone would tinker with the engine.
Certainly everyone at RPM would deny that the engine was the victim of sabotage. They see each other work hard every day and wouldn’t be able to fathom that anyone they call a friend or a colleague would do such a thing.
That’s the way Bill Pink, who directs RPM’s engines at the track, thinks. But he says there’s more than just the feeling that no one would do something to hurt the engine. He says the engines were built and done and ready for New Hampshire before the announcement of the merger Sept. 7. And he says that the crankshaft has been broken five times in tests, just never in a car on the track, and that everyone in the engine shop has known that the crankshafts were ticking time bombs.
“We all know these cranks do not work,” Pink says. “But we got painted into a corner where we had to use them [with the R6 engine]. ... Unfortunately, we’ve got more of them just like it sitting here. Everybody was saying this was going to happen sooner or later. Fortunately, it happened later because we got in the Chase.
“We’ve been all holding our breath. And if the [team owners] Gilletts wouldn’t have announced [the merger], the crank still would have broke.”
In fact, Kahne will use the old R5 engine at Dover this week until some new, stronger crankshafts that have been in the process of being made are ready. It has taken about 10 weeks to build the new crankshafts, and the new ones should solve the problem, Pink says.
Maybe it’s watching all those reruns of “CSI: Miami” that can make someone continue to wonder if that engine really blew because of a bad piece or someone with a bad attitude.
But to someone such as Pink, this isn’t TV; it’s reality. He gets pretty emotional when talking about the allegations of sabotage. He said the engine shop employees - many of whom came from other forms of racing to work for the organization and don’t have connections to get new jobs in NASCAR when the engine shop closes - had a meeting after the merger announcement and made a pact to do everything they could to help Kahne win a championship and go out on top. He said he’d bet his reputation built on 40 years in racing on his saying that in no way was this sabotage.
“People can say what they want, but this was legitimate; this was not sabotage,” Pink says. “It’s not like we took a hacksaw and cut through half the crankshaft and timed out when it was going to break. ... As far as anybody sabotaging the engines? No. All these guys, here, they’re racers.”
For now, that’s good enough for me.
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Comments
21 responses to "Bob Pockrass: Kasey Kahne engine sabotage? Team engine guy says no way". Post a Comment.
sweetthings88 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 12:01 PMI still say theres a piece of this puzzle missing. Why did it only happen to KK? Hes your only driver that made it in the top 12 for the chase.Something wrong some wheres RPM.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportcarbuff1 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 1:09 PMBill Pink is a very Honoable person, and loves his job, takes it very seriosly. He also has a lot of respect for the people he works with and for. Bill would never sacrifice his reputation for anything, let alone a race.
Report as AbuseRespectfully!
Ray Fox
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg293388 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 2:11 PMWhat did you expect him to say SURE I DID IT,regardless if he did or not! Just seem's a little strange that he blew so quick! JR. had the same problem's with his equipment (engine's included) right after he started to make his break away move! Nascar is no different than any other sport! If they can cheat and get away with it,they will!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmar38gr said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 3:30 PMI smell a big RAT. And I cannot forget the look on Kasey's face when Richard gave him that big ole country boy hug when he won his last race, it was not a Happy Winners Face. (Whats Up With That)??????
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRonSchwalbe said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 3:37 PM"Hmm - -Soon, I might be looking for a job so - I think I'll build an engine that blows UP -- to show how GOOD I am" !!!! ???? Ahhh , - - Yeah, Riiiight, Bob. (sigh)
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» Confirm Abuse Reportiusewd40 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 4:08 PMI think Mr. Pink made a very good point. THEY--meaning Petty and Gillett knew they had Cheap Cranks but gave the orders to run them anyway. It's a Typical Management Problem---NOT the Engine Builders. Garbage IN---Garbage OUT and when the Garbage went all over the racetrack, it re-arranged the field thus it not only affected the #9 but MANY others.
Report as AbuseIn a couple of years we might find out the truth after the Petty-Yates-Gillette team is GONE.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportfrankhumphrey007 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 4:10 PMIt could happen since Gillet is such an Evil Character, everyone hates him he has turn everyone against each other. Last weeks Fight and Walk Out would not constitute revenge to the dedicated long time employees. They will be loosing their jobs to 3rd Rate Yates engine Builders, mind you Yates not the So Called Roush-Yates Builds Roush has in his Cars. Yates was doing as bad as Petty was prior to this year. Well it was the Only Dodge Engine to Blow Up in Months.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrmdunn3 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 4:20 PMWell it's over and done with and not helping Kasey or his crew any by all this talk. I for one was on the sabotage kick, now I'll have to ponder this article again. Still stinks for Kasey and all his fans.
Report as AbuseThank God he'll be using the R5 at Dover, now all he'll need is speed.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 4:34 PMso it was the new motor...what a shame...don't they usually go with proven parts in the Chase?...
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 6:14 PMFrom earlier stories I believe Kasey is the only one at RPM that is running the newer engine. If that is the case, that would explain why only his engine blew. Also recall that Kasey wanted to run the new engine (the same one Penske is running) for the improved performance.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAndi said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 6:15 PMThe reason it was Kasey Kahne and no one else in the RPM camp is because Kasey is the only one running the new Dodge engine. And yes with the timing of this all it seems fishy, but I really don't think that's what it is. I believe something went wrong with the new engine when Elliott ran it at Indy a few months ago, and he hasn't run it since. So with that being said, things can happen to them.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportblamemcardle said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 6:28 PMGO Bill!. Finally someone speaks out on this insanity! See. the truth is there is no one to blame but M. Macardle and T. Wheeller for all of this mess. they got out in time and were able to weezle their way out of the engine shop before its collapse. This very crank has been breaking for over a year. yet no change in design or manufacture. these weren't cheap either. probably the most expensive in nascar. nice way for em' to put a nice chuck of change in their pockets in the mean time though. Macardle still ended up canned. but made out like a bandit. on george gillett's dime. Their greedy, arrogant, absent minded behavior is what caused the demise of RPM's engine shop. All told,they screwed about 90 guys and their families out of a lively hood. Will these owners and mangement ever see the BS they're being fed? People like this are a diesese to this sport and need to be shuffled out. macardle finally got it. hopefully wheeller is next!
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» Confirm Abuse Reporttroyhackney said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 7:01 PMRPM, everyone knows that the R6 is faster than the R5, so tell us all why you would go back to using the R5? First of all, the 9 car is in twelfth position and has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Go with the faster motor (R6), which ultimately helped the 9 team get in, and cross your fingers that is doesn't self detonate like you have evidently being doing for months. Second, in a multi-million dollar industry, don't tell me, or anyone else, that you can't get cranks built faster than ten weeks, especially since everyone knew they were suspect a long time ago! Hey, you have a engine shop! Third, I hope that Kasey does himself, as well as his loyal fans, a favor, and gets out of RPM.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjbbigrod said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 7:13 PMWell #1, now you know WHY Kasey's was the only one to blow, HE was the ONLY ONE with the NEW engine. And yes that is the truth. They can't even get the parts fast enough for the others to run it. - - - As far as Doug Yates goes, he IS the best engine builder in the business, bar none. HE is the one that is the designer, builder AND tester of Ford's new FR9 engine. You think for one minute Rousch would have merged with him years ago, IF he wasn't the best? Give us a break. His aren't as fast right now as Toyota and Chevrolet and Dodge, BECAUSE they STILL are using the OLD engine for ALL the Fords out there YET. THEY were planning to have their new engines out by August, but obviously THEY were not good enough yet either. Anytime you design/build something NEW you will have initial problems with it. Look at Chevrolet and their fuel pump cables. Look at Toyota and their cam lobes. Look at Dodge and their crankshafts. And THESE are just the parts we hear about. - - - I EXPECT Kasey and all the rest of the Fords to be doing really, really good NEXT year. Watch them. Ford doesn't build junk, they make SURE it is good before it goes out, 99.9% of the time, at least.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsweetthings88 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 8:29 PMThanks JBBIGROD for setting me straight. I didn't know kk was the only one with new engine package.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGraceann said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 10:27 PMOk, correct me if I am wrong but the cranks are bad right? So does Penske use the same type crank or is RPM the only one with the bad cranks?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportkdsterling73 said:
Sep 22, 2009 at 11:58 PMPerhaps some of you may remember Kasey making a big stink early in the season about wanting the new engine. So Kahne has only himself to blame. He's the one that demanded the new Dodge engine be put in his car, even though everybody knew it was still a work in progress.
Report as AbuseDodge can go suck a fat one too. That engine was supposed to be ready halfway through LAST season. But they kept pushing it back, pushing it back, chasing gremlins, etc. Now you have Kahne recenly saying the new engine doesn't even deliver the extra horsepower it was supposed to. It's no wonder they're going back to the R-5. Same horsepower, but at least they know it stands a better chance of holding together.
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» Confirm Abuse Report4EVER3 said:
Sep 23, 2009 at 11:40 AMMaybe Kasey does not like being hugged on,That would account for not having a Happy Winners face.jmo.As for the engine,It happens.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgalvan18244 said:
Sep 23, 2009 at 9:30 PMkdsterling73, yea your pretty much WRONG!! theres nuthin wrong with the new dodge engnie its cleary better than that old one, the engine is fine and works, penske has ran it all year and have done great things, RPM ruined the engnie they didnt want to make it and you can tell didnt care for it cuz they knew they were gonan leave dodge, so they have no one to blame but themselves! they fired the engine guys, so why would they put in there all for a team that just fired them??
Report as AbuseRPM messed up there own team!! i wouldnt be shocked if the r-5 blows up this weekend too.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportninefan said:
Sep 24, 2009 at 1:54 PMrpm is becoming a cluster---- Kasey and Bud will join with Tony in 2011
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» Confirm Abuse Reportxbrownsx said:
Sep 26, 2009 at 2:11 AMSadly, Richard Petty Motorsports is going to be very embarassed in 2010, when their #1 driver is 23rd in points, and the other two will be 30-35 in points. At least one car will be in the "Go OR Go Home" qualifying crowd. What a shame -- "Petty Ford" doesn't even sound right...
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