Kahne Comeback Good for NASCAR
7/21/2008Even in today's non-stop media/Internet/cable TV/satellite radio/chatroom news-rumor-gossip world, there's a limit to how much - or long - we can talk about Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Really.
Which makes Kasey Kahne's comeback season a welcome bit of relief.
After what he calls "probably the worst racing year I've ever had," one he is "trying to forget about," Kahne has raced back into the headlines. Through Chicagoland, he's got two Sprint Cup wins, plus an unlikely visit to victory lane in the All-Star Challenge.
Kahne's place in the Chase isn't assured. But the improved performance has been reassuring to fans of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge Charger and Gillett Evernham Motorsports.
"We went into the year expecting to run really well," says Kahne.
That's something of a surprising statement, since he's coming off a season where his team got off track. After six 2006 wins, and eighth in points, Kahne had but one top-five in 2007 and plummeted to 19th in the standings.
"We didn't realize how far behind we were," Kahne admitted. "It took an entire year to run bad . . . We were getting behind with the old car late in '06 and then we had to learn the other (CoT) car. We just never did it."
That brought more change than Barack Obama could ever imagine. New majority owner George Gillett - "I didn't know the name until I met him," admits Kahne - invested in new people and more capability. For example, Indy and sports car veteran Iain Watt joined as director of performance engineering.
"The toughest part is remembering everybody's names," laughed Kahne.
Thanks to Allstate's clever advertising campaign, even non-Sprint Cup fans know Kahne. That's why his success is good for the Business of NASCAR and the overall promotion of the series in America's overcrowded sports and celebrity landscape.
Kahne's popularity was put to the test when he was chosen by Budweiser as its designated driver, following Earnhardt Jr. That's a tough task - sort of like quarterbacking the Green Bay Packers after Brett Favre or teeing-off at the U.S. Open after Tiger Woods.
"There's tons of ways you can look at it," explained Kahne. "At the end of the day, Junior left and did his own thing, and has something new. Budweiser is one of the greatest sponsors in sports. They're a part of everything I enjoy.
"It's a great opportunity. I try to do everything I can to win and keep their car up front. If that's not enough, then that's not enough."
Not that he has any self-doubts.
"My confidence was actually good all last year. It didn't work out very well, but I tried.
"This year, we're back. I know I can drive."
[ Next column: August 4 ]
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(I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.)
BackAbout I.N. Sider
I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.