Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne (born April 10, 1980 in Enumclaw, Washington) is a driver in NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup series. He currently drives the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger for Evernham Motorsports with teammates Jeremy Mayfield and Scott Riggs.
NEXTEL Cup career
He replaced Bill Elliott in the #9 Dodge at the end of 2003 when Elliott announced a part-time schedule starting with the 2004 season.
In 2004, Kahne surprised many by nearly winning several races (including five second-place finishes and 13 top-fives), winning four poles and easily capturing the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award.
He scored his first career NEXTEL Cup victory in his sophomore season of 2005, after a dominating performance in the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway. It was also the first victory for the Dodge Charger, which returned to NASCAR in 2005. He also scored two poles in back-to-back weeks at Darlington and Richmond during the same year.
On Monday, March 20, 2006, Kahne won a rain-postponed Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nearly three weeks later, he won the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
On Sunday, May 28, 2006, Kahne won the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, holding off 3-time defending race winner Jimmie Johnson, who would go on to finish second.
On Sunday, June 18, 2006, Kahne won the rain-shortened 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway.The race was red-flagged at lap 129 with Kahne in the lead. Just prior to the finish, there was what would prove to be the final pitstop. Rookie Reed Sorenson took only two tires beating Kahne and Carl Edwards off pit road. Kahne beat Edwards off pit road by only a few inches. On the ensuing restart, Kahne passed Sorenson just before the rain fell. His finish also moved him into 3rd in the NEXTEL Cup standings.
Kasey has five career NASCAR Nextel Cup wins. Four of the five have been won from the pole. These are Richmond, Atlanta, Texas, and Michigan. At Lowe's Motorspeedway, Kahne started ninth.
Busch and Craftsman Truck Series
Kahne is also a part time Busch Series driver, driving the #9 Unilever Dodge with his Cup teammates. He has won four Busch Series races in his career and also made two starts in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004, winning both events. Kahne resides in Huntersville, North Carolina with his younger brother Kale Kahne. Kahne also has an older sister, Shanon.
Races Won
Nextel Cup (5 career wins)
- 2006 (4 wins) Golden Corral 500 (Atlanta), Samsung/Radio Shack 500 (Texas), Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte), 3M Performance 400 (Michigan)
- 2005 (1 win ) Chevy American Revolution 400 (Richmond)
- 2004 (0 wins) Rookie of the Year
Busch Series (4 career wins)
- 2006 (1 win ) Sam's Town 300 (Las Vegas)
- 2005 (2 wins) O'Reilly 300 (Texas), United Way 300 (Kansas)
- 2003 (1 win ) Ford 300 (Homestead)
Craftsman Truck Series (2 career wins)
- 2004 (2 wins) Darlington 200 (Darlington), Ford 200 (Homestead)