Kahne enjoying strong start to Cup season
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Nick Laham / Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Budweiser Dodge, stands in the gararge area during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2008 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Kasey Kahne is in his fifth year as a Cup series driver, but he’s never had a start to a season like his current one. Never in his previous four seasons has Kahne started the year with two top-10 finishes.
But this year, Kahne was seventh in the Daytona 500 and ninth Monday at Auto Club Speedway. The memories of a disastrous 2007 season are still in his mind, but the No. 9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports team appears to be building positive momentum.
“I think the race in California gave us a lot of confidence and gave us an idea that we are heading in the right direction,” Kahne said. “The team did a lot of work in the offseason to make our cars better, and it felt like that work paid off at California.
“We’re probably off to the best start we’ve ever had after two top-10 finishes, so we feel like we have a little momentum. We are racing the California car this week in Vegas, and hopefully we’ll see more of the same this week.”
Unlike some drivers who have complained about how difficult NASCAR’s new car is to drive, Kahne takes an opposite tack. Perhaps that’s because his car is handling well, but Kahne said he likes the new car.
“I think it’s been good,” he said. “The way the car handles you can free it up and still be able to use all the engine power. We haven’t raced a lot yet, but between the race at California and the test sessions we had at Las Vegas and California, I’ve found the car to be pretty fun to drive.
“I thought Monday’s race at California was a good one, and there was a good bit of passing. I think the biggest thing for me is just knowing what kind of space I am in when I’m around other cars, so my spotter has been giving me extra information, but it’s been good.”
Like the other Sprint Cup teams, Kahne and team director Kenny Francis tested at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway in January. The test went well, Kahne said, giving him even more confidence heading into this weekend’s UAW-Dodge 400.
“It should be interesting with this new car there this weekend,” Kahne said.
“We felt pretty good about the test we had there in January and we had a good race in California going before that last pit stop and the car got too loose. We’re taking the same car to Las Vegas this weekend, so I think it will be good.”
