Driver Spotlight: Kasey Kahne

A Push to the Chase. 2014 Driver Spotlight on Kasey Kahne

By Richard Tix

Twenty races down and six races to go until the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase begins. It has been well stated that this year everything is different. NASCAR started the season off by shaking up the points criteria for qualification into the Chase. The main thing, "you win and you are in." Obviously that statement is only true with 16 winners and under (but most years it will be true).

The other big thing that changed (Not including changes during the Chase) is that 16 drivers now get into the Chase. Well, for Kasey Kahne he has to be looking at both scenarios right about now. With 6 races left in NASCAR's regular season Kahne still does not have a win but is sitting 17th in points and just 4 points back from Cup rookie Austin Dillon (Current Chase Standings).

That is cause for anyone to start to get nervious, but the good thing for Kahne is he is on the rise. At one point, I had serious concern for Kahne's chances at a Chase birth and was wondering what was wrong with the #5 team. 

So, here NASCAR heads to Pocono which is where Kahne's shaky early season came to a cross roads after he was involved in a wreck. He ended up finishing 42nd and had 4 top 10's (1 top 5) in 14 races at that point. But since NASCAR's last trip to Pocono everything for Kasey has been uphill excluding a 27th place Daytona finish where he was one of many cars involved in a crash (which we all know is a wild card track). 

Since Pocono he has 4 top 10's (1 top 5, two 6th's, and an 11th) and has climbed all the way to one spot out of getting a Chase spot on points. The big concern is going to be if a surprise driver from the group of guys in 13th-20th spot in points steals a win in the next 6 races. Every win that is stolen by a non 2014 win driver means "The Fight for Points" in at the bottom of the standings becomes even more heated. To this point, just remember guys like Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer (and Marcus Ambrose, think Watkins Glen) still do not have a win in 2014.

So, Kahne is doing a great job fighting back and picking up points when he can, which could end up being enough, but a win would be huge for this team and lock them into the Chase. 

Even though he got caught up in a crash a Pocono last time around he does have two career wins there (last one in 2013). Also, at the remaining 6 tracks he has 7 career wins, so winning a race before the Chase is definitely not out of the question (Chasing the Chase in 2014).  

I do think Kasey Kahne will get into the 2014 Chase. Every race that goes by without a new winner in 2014 will mean better chances of getting in on points for all the win less drivers. Whats for an exciting last three races of the NASCAR regular season.