Kasey's charge
At times Sunday night, I got the feeling that Kasey Kahne (and maybe Junior) was the only guy really racing at California. Everyone else - merely driving.
The result: Kahne is the only driver outside looking in with a shot at making the Chase. He's 30 points out of 10th (Jeff Burton), 45 out of 8th (Tony Stewart) and 77 out of sixth (Junior). Even Jeff Gordon (4th place, 102 ahead of Kahne) is going to be rolling around Richmond next Saturday night with a little voice in his head (and his crew chief, probably, yelling, "Drive faster. DRIVE FASTER!"
So what are Kahne's chances? Newman was 11th coming into Richmond last year and swapped spots with Jamie McMurray. In 2004, Jeremy Mayfield won the Richmond race to punch his ticket to the Chase. The driver Mayfield knocked out of the top 10: Kasey Kahne.
Yes, I like Kahne's chances very much. Yes, I do.
Comments (6)
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His chances should be good. I believe he's won a race at Richmond and the way he's been doing of late bodes well for young Kasey. I hope he gets in and Martin doesn't.
It would be disappointing for a five race winner not to make the race and two drivers who haven't won a race this year (one of them not a thing in years) get in.
Posted on September 5, 2006 1:41 PM
A lot of ink has been spilled on how Kasey Kahne can get in provided that he has a great finish, but all that ignores the more likely possibility: That Kasey gets in with a decent finish combined with a spectacularly bad outing by Burton, Earnhardt or one of the others... At Richmond, it's not rare for a top driver to run into some bad luck (or an early crash) and finishing 42nd. I'm not hoping for something bad to happy to anyone, but I wouldn't be surprised if Kahne gets in after one of those he's chasing blows up or gets taken out by Tony Stewart.
Posted on September 5, 2006 2:52 PM
Hmmmm ... so if you're one of those guys on the bubble (Stewart, Junior, Martin, etc.) and you have your chance to dump Kahne, do you? There seemed to be an awful lot of Kasey Kahne fans in the stands at Fontana. (Or maybe it was the We-Hate-Reed-Sorenson Fan Club. Hard to tell).
And if someone decides to take fate into his own bumper, er, hands, who might be the one to do it? Besides Stewart, of course.
And what does it say about the Chase that Kahne has more wins than any other Cup driver but still isn't in the playoffs?
Posted on September 5, 2006 2:59 PM
If given the chance, dump him in a NY minute, then afterwards report, "Didn't meant to spin him, I just wanted to ring his bell."
It's a Darwinian thing, survival of the fittest and all that stuff.
Of course Stewart is in that group to bump opponents, and don't forget Earnhardt. Burton & Martin, nah, too laid back and we no gentleman Jeff G would never do anything like that ;)
If any in the top ten doesn't do it look to some of their team members out of the finals picture to do the deed. Hey, it's only racing.
Posted on September 5, 2006 3:29 PM
I think Kasey will ahve a good night. He got his first victory at that track, so he knows how to get around it. But I don't hink he'll be able to drive into the Chase himself, he'll need a little help. Someone in the lower top 10 needs to either crash or blow-up for him to get in. Now that bumper thing, hmmm ... interesting twist. I personally can't see Earnhardt doing it. I mean he didn't dump Newman a few years back at the All Star race, so I don't see him doing it now - it's not a Busch Race you know. As for anyone else using the bumper, I think it is open game - well Martin probably wouldn't use it, but what about a team mate of his getting in Kahne's way or using their bumper on Mark's behalf?
Posted on September 5, 2006 10:50 PM
Bumpers....hmmm....maybe.
Hope Martin doesn't make the chase? Blasphemy!
I predict we see a race much like Bristol where everyone is cautious. Kasey Kahne does not get in the Chase and then everyone whines and complains how UNFAIR it is and the points system needs to be changed.
Onebadwheel 2¢
Posted on September 6, 2006 1:43 AM