Kahne overcomes adversity to win at Michigan

By Greg Engle
Cup Scene Daily
June 19
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BROOKLYN, Mich.-In a weekend filled with adversity, Kasey Kahne showed he has the right stuff.

For Kahne the win capped off a weekend that saw plenty of ups and downs.

Kahne won the rain shortened 3M Performance 400 Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, scoring his fourth victory of the year, his third from a pole and fifth of his career.

After scoring the pole position Friday, Kahne scrapped the wall during the final practice session on Saturday. His Evernham Motorsports crew worked to repair the damage most of Saturday and he was able to lead the field to the green Sunday after a 57-minute rain delay.

“It was bad enough that it took a long time to fix,” Kahne said of his racecar. “But not bad enough to get out the back-up.”

After taking the green Sunday, Kahne would quickly lose the lead to second place starter Jeff Gordon on the second lap.

Reigning Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart would see his day end in disaster on lap 23 when Jeff Green made contact with the rear quarter panel of Stewart’s Chevy sending Stewart’s car spinning into the wall and eventually into the garage. Despite a valiant effort by his crew and even Stewart himself, Stewart would be forced to retire from the race later, his third DNF (Did Not Finish) of 2006.

“I just got turned around,” Stewart said. “Something that didn’t really need to happen that early in the race.”

Kasey Kahne holds his trophy after winning the rain shortened NASCAR Nextel Cup 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, June 18, 2006. Kahne won from the pole again, helped this time by a timely caution flag and a downpour that ended the race 71 laps early.
(AP Photo/Bob Brodbeck)
3M Performance 400 Results

As the race wore on Gordon traded the lead with Kahne and Kyle Busch. On lap 47 Kahne’s day almost came to an end when his Dodge began to overheat. Kahne was forced to make a green flag stop to have debris cleaned from the front grille of his car. The stop put Kahne a lap down in 38th.

“I was trying to pass Jeff Gordon,” Kahne said. “Racing with him and we just had to pit and get it off the nose and go from there.”

“It was nerve wracking that’s for sure.” Kahne’s team director Kenny Francis said. “I think part of the key to it for sure was being on the pole and having that pit box (the very first spot on pit road). The way it’s laid out here, that’s a big advantage under caution.”

Kahne and his team used that to their advantage a few laps later when caution came out for rain and they were able to get back on the lead lap. The crew continued to gain spots on pit road during subsequent cautions and Kahne soon found himself back in contention.

-(Cont'd from front page) “Kenny (Francis) took two tires one time, “Kahne said. “And passed some cars on pit road and the pit crew probably passed 10 cars with pit stops.”

Dale Earnhardt made an appearance in the front of the field, and spent several laps dueling with Gordon. During a yellow for a solo spin by Matt Kenseth on lap 68, Gordon’s pit crew delayed getting him back on to the track. The miscue took Gordon out of contention and gave Greg Biffle the lead.

After a caution brought out when Tony Raines cut left front tire and spun through the infield grass, Brian Vickers who elected to stay out while most of the field pitted, led for several laps.

Carl Edwards, who had started in 31st, had clawed his way through the field and assumed the lead as dark clouds began to roll in and weather looked to threaten the event.

The worsening weather played into the strategies for most of the teams. And as what would turn out to be the final pit stops of the race, rookie Reed Sorenson’s team elected to take only right side tires, sending him out in the lead. On the green flag however, Kahne rocketed past to reassume the lead for the final time.

The skies finally opened up on lap 129 ending the race and giving Kahne the victory.

“It’s been a great weekend,” Kahne said.” We’ve had some ups and downs.”

“It was a great car to drive and a great team to work with.”

Earnhardt Jr. was third. Greg Biffle followed Earnhardt, and Sorensen had his best NASCAR Nextel Cup Series finish with fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 were current points leader Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick.

Kahne and Earnhardt moved up two spots in the standings and now sit third and fourth respectively. Mark Martin and Tony Stewart lost two spots while Greg Biffle finds himself in the top ten for the first time this season.

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