Last-lap crash nixes solid run by Richard Petty Motorsports’ Kasey Kahne
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite being caught up in a last-lap crash in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400, which resulted in a 15th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway, Kasey Kahne climbed back into Chase For The Sprint Cup contention.
The Richard Petty Motorsports driver was 15th on the final restart on lap 157, but had climbed into the top 10 when he collided with Kyle Busch coming to the checkered flag.
“We’ve been running real good the past few months,” Kenny Francis, Kahne’s crew chief, said, “but we don’t have a lot of real good finishes to show for it. But it’s been a lot of circumstances. A lot. And right here was another example of it tonight. [We were] on our way to a nice solid top-10 and then get in that last wreck there and end up 15th.
“We’re fortunate to be 15th after getting in that wreck. I’ve got to thank the Lord that Kasey’s OK; that was a heck of a scary-looking wreck.”
Kahne, who was also involved in a 13-car crash earlier in the race, climbed from 13th to 12th in the point standings and is now 65 points ahead of 13th-place Mark Martin.
