Kahne Takes Advantage Of Stewart's Misfortune

The drivers of NASCAR love racing at the Lowe's Motor Speedway for the reason that it's so close to many of the teams bases. Perhaps the driver who hates to leave the most is Kasey Kahne. A week after winning the All-Star Race, he was in the right place after Tony Stewart's blown tire took him out. Kahne took the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night at Concord, NC.

One of the biggest questions after the 2007 season ended was "What happened to Kasey Kahne?"  After six wins in 2006, Kahne was expected to be a potential contender for the championship.  He went through the season winless and well out of the title chase.  After some struggles in the first part of this season, Kahne got things going in the right direction by winning the Sprint All-Star Race.  He continued to build momentum by capturing the win at the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.  It's the second time that he's won this event, one of the biggest on the sport's schedule.

 

Kasey Kahne took advantage of some bad luck for Tony Stewart to take the win.  In the closing laps, a tire went flat, erasing a good sized lead for Stewart, and ending his chances of winning.  Stewart wound up finishing 18th.  But it was far from a lucky win for Kahne.  After starting second, Kasey led 66 of the 400 laps.  Also of importance for the #9 team, the win moved him back into position for The Chase.  He moved up two positions in the standings to 12th.

 

There were eleven cautions in the race.  The oddest event of the night came on fourth caution on lap 186.  A wheel on Brian Vickers' car came loose, causing him to lose control.  The tire was then hit by David Gilliand.  After being hit by Gilliland's car, the tire took a ride by itself, taking several high bounces, including one over the fence separating the infield from the track.  The tire would crash into one of the campers on the infield.  That spoiled a good run for Vickers, who led 61 laps.  However, becuase of the incident, he finished 41st.

 

As is the case with this race every year, there are cars who's night ends early because of engine trouble.  This year was no different.  The biggest name to have such troubles was Jimmie Johnson, who typically is one of the top finishers at the track that bear's his sponsor's name.  After starting tenth and leading 35 laps, Johnson fell out 49 laps shy of the finish, ending up back in 39th.

 

Greg Biffle had a strong night, finishing in the runner-up spot.  Pole-sitter Kyle Busch dealt with car issues for parts of the night, but still had a good race, leading 61 laps and finishing third.  Busch now leads the point standings by 94 over Jeff Burton, who placed sixth.  Hendrick teammates rounded out the top five.  Jeff Gordon finished fourth with Dale Earnhardt Jr. right behind him in fifth.  Dale led the most laps (76), but it was not an easy night.  His night looked done on lap 298, when he blew a tire and hit the wall.  He then got hit in the rear by J.J. Yeley.  Getting a top five after that was one of the most impressive runs of the night.

 

Matt Kenseth finished in seventh with Elliott Sadler, Carl Edwards, and David Reuitmann rounding out the top ten.  Other notable finishes on the night were Kevin Harvick in 14th, Mark Martin in 15th, Kurt Busch in 16th, Ryan Newman in 21st, Clint Bowyer in 25th, and last year's winner Casey Mears in 29th.

 

NASCAR will now head to Dover, Delaware and "The Monster Mile".  The Craftsman Truck Series will race Friday, the Nationwide Series on Saturday, with the Sprint Cup Series taking the track on Sunday.  That race on Sunday will mark the end of Fox's part of the broadcast schedule.

By:  CrimsonCowboy