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DAYTONA BEACH, Florida.
Jeff Gordon grabbed the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr., then held off Kurt Busch and Earnhardt in extra laps to win his third Daytona 500 on Sunday. |
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Kasey Kahne Driver Profile
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 Born: April 10,1980, in Enumclaw, Wash. Lives in: Huntersville, N.C. Height, weight: 5-9,140 Car: No. 9 Dodge Car owner: Ray Evernham Crew chief: Tommy Baldwin Engine builder: Evernham Motorsports First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race: February 15, 2004, at Daytona;
started 27th, finished 41st Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins: 0 Best NASCAR NEXTEL Cup finish: 2nd, five
times (most recent: September 5,2004, at
California)
Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 4 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 4 First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole: March 5,
2004, at Las Vegas; finished 2nd Best points finish: 13th (2004)
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WHERE HE'S FAST: From one-mile flat tracks like Phoenix and New Hampshire to two-mile fast tracks like California and Michigan-and all of the 1.5-mile tracks in between-Kahne showed tremendous versatility for a rookie. Even at a funky track like Pocono-it combines superspeedway and road-course characteristics-Kahne had an average finish of 8.5.
WHERE HE'S SLOW: Short tracks and restrictor-plate tracks gave Kahne fits-that's not unusual for rookies in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series-but he made significant improvement on his second visit to Martinsville. Kahne also acknowledges that he must improve at road courses. He qualified 30th at Infineon and finished 31st. Kahne's performance at Watkins Glen was better-he started 11th and finished 14th-but he still had trouble in qualifying and when navigating traffic through the esses during the race.
STRENGTHS: Kahne won four poles (only Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon had more) and started on the front row eight times. Kahne's ability to hold his track position when he started up front hardly resembled the norm for a rookie. He led 692 laps in 17 races. Kahne proved to be a good listener and a quick learner. Kahne cited Mark Martin as one driver he patterned himself after on the track. Kahne also maintained his composure when other drivers antagonized him.
WEAKNESSES: Closing the deal. Kahne finished second five times. On the positive side, he didn't wreck anyone in order to win, and he could have done that at least a couple of times. Drafting is an area that needs improvement, but with the yellow stripe removed from the back bumper of the No. 9, Kahne should find more willing dancing partners in the future.
IN THE PITS: Kahne says he never has had a crew chief as talented as Tommy Baldwin. One of the best motivators in the garage, Baldwin proved his loyalty to Kahne when he defended Kahne at Chicagoland after Kahne's accident with Tony Stewart, Baldwin is a good judge of talent, so Kahne's pit crew is decent, but the No. 9 wasn't the fastest car off pit road. With time, Kahne's knack for getting on and off pit road will be seamless.
BOTTOM LINE: Kahne easily is the best rookie to come along since Jimmie Johnson and Newman in 2002. Kahne is polished outside of the car, and inside it his potential is limitless. It wouldn't be a surprise if Kahne made the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup in his second season. With Baldwin guiding him and with the backing of Evernham Motorsports, Kahne is on the fast track to success. |
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Crew chief Tommy Baldwin (left) was just what Kasey Kahne needed in his rookie season. Baldwin has a history of working well with young drivers, and he and Kahne clicked. Kahne finished second five times and ran well in a number of other races. Expect Kahne and Baldwin to find victory lane this season.
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