Kahne hopes to recapture magic in Texas

BY JILL ERWIN
Richmond Times-Dispatch Staff
Published: April 4, 2008

Kasey Kahne knows his way around Texas Motor Speedway. In his first Cup start there, he finished second to Emporia native, and future teammate, Elliott Sadler.

His third Cup victory came two years later on that same 1 1/2-mile surface, in the middle of his best season yet. He won six times that year.

He hasn’t won since. Kahne is hopeful that streak may be coming to an end sooner rather than later, and he says patience is what’s needed.

“I think [crew chief] Kenny Francis and definitely [Vice President of Competition] Mark McArdle this year has done a lot to just make sure that I know that we’re just out there going for top 15s right now and trying to stay as close to the Chase as possible until we get our cars where we know we can win races,” Kahne said. “I think we’re getting closer, but we’re still not there.”

He said he hopes within the next couple of months he’ll be at that point. It’s been a while since he has.

Kahne finished in the top five 15 times during his rookie season, but could never lead that final lap. He won once his second season (at Richmond International Raceway), then a jaw-dropping six times in 2006. However, he hasn’t won since.

He’s as clueless as anyone else both about that and about the resurgence that has led to him being seventh in the points heading back to Texas this weekend. He was 19th last year.

“I think the biggest thing has been kind of [being] able to sit back and look at everything and think about it,” Kahne said. “You know, we had a little bit of time to regroup over the offseason. We’ve just been able to put more time into this car because of working with it for a longer period.”

That comfort level could pay off this weekend in the Samsung 500. Four of Kahne’s seven career victories have come on 1 1/2-mile tracks like Texas.

The weekend will definitely test the patience he’s so sure he needs.

The current car made its debut on a 1 1/2-mile track at Atlanta, and concerns about the tires Goodyear chose for the weekend were voiced loudly and often. Kahne said practice at Texas will be important to see how the car and tires combine.

Goodyear will bring back a similar tire to the one it used last year in this race, and Kahne hopes that works out.

“The way Atlanta went, practice is going to be very important,” Kahne said. “I think this car will be really good at Texas. I think it will be a great car there to race, to watch, to qualify, everything.

“The people building the tire have a ton to do with how competitive and how racy these cars are. So if they bring us a good tire that we can race on, Texas is gonna be a lot of fun. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

But more importantly, Kahne said, he has to take what the track, tire and car give him.

“Just personally I just need to do the best I can, regardless,” Kahne said. “If the car is capable of finishing 30th, I need to finish 30th. If it can run 20th, I need to finish 20th. That’s all I can do.”

Contact Jill Erwin at (804) 649-6490 or .