Behind the Wall: Kasey Kahne

Showing posts with label Kasey Kahne. Show all posts

Monday, January 18, 2016

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

Kasey Kahnes past two season's haven't been kind to him when you look at the stat sheet. He put up a nice late season win in 2014 to lock in a Chase spot, but last season he had no such luck and finished 18th in points.

Hendrick Motorsports just gave him a multi year deal and he has been picking up sponsors left and right (Quicken Loans from Newman and Panasonic/Tough Book from Gordon). So, he has no job security issues despite his recent struggles.

All the tools are there for him to make a leap back into relevance, but will he in 2016?

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

I want to say he will bounce back. I want to say he finally lives up to getting a ride at Hendrick, but part of me just believes he needs a fresh start. I think he will have a fine season, maybe a bit better then 2015, but I do not see a huge comeback season for Kahne even with more light being on him with Gordon gone. Another season where he will flirt with a win, 4-5 top 5's, and 10-12 top 10's are where I expect him to land (and all those numbers are up from 2015). He again will be a bubble Chase driver that might need that win to get in.

Previous Driver Spotlights

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

2015 Driver Spotlight Review: Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne 2015 Review

By Richard Tix

2015 Preview

Season Grade: D+

Season Preview: "Hendrick Motorsports and Kasey Kahne signed a three year extension on his deal entering 2015. This season was supposed to be the last season during his current contract but Rick must still see something in Kahne to extend his deal. Kahne may not have shown it in 2014, but he is still a capable driver that is in his prime years. He will only be 35 years old this season and he already has 17 career wins, 83 top 5's, and 146 top 10's. He has proven he can win and proven he can win at Hendrick. I think Kahne bounces back a bit this season, but still nothing like 2012 when he joined Henrick. I think 1-2 wins, 8-10 top 5's, 13-16 top 10's should be expected and are attainable. His main goal is to get back to the Chase and improve upon this years results."

Season Review: Well, I set Kahne's main goal as getting to the Chase. Kasey did not in 2015. I also mentioned 1-2 wins. Kasey did not get there in 2015 either. For the most part, 2015 was a disappointing season for Kahne.

Compared top 2014 which was also disappointing, he pretty much fared the same. However, in 2015 he failed to get a win which left him out of the Chase. 3 top 5's and 10 top 10's is under performing for a guy with his talent in a Hendrick seat. He may have just signed a new deal, but the heat is going to start turning up if he doesn't produce now that Gordon is gone.

Previous Driver Spotlights

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

2015 NASCAR Buy or Sell: Kasey Kahne

Buy or Sell Kahne's 2015 Chase Chances

By Richard Tix

Week 20 (19 races in)

The regular season is quickly winding down so NASCAR Behind the Wall has added a Buy or Sell article (not every week, but when fitting). Last week we took a look at Kyle Busch and his Chase chances (and then title chances if you thought he would get in). Well, he went out and won his third race in four starts. The motion has now turned into many fans "Buying" into the idea he will make the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase.

Unlike Kyle, Kasey Kahne isn't heading into Indianapolis Motor Speedway on a hot streak. Right now he is 12th in the total points standings, but when it comes to the Chase he sits 13th. He is 13th without counting in Kyle Busch (who will automatically jump him if he gets into the top 30 in points (currently 33rd).

So, if you count in Kyle in, Kahne is 14th out of 16th in the points and without a win in 2015 which legitimately puts him on the bubble for the Chase. So, lets take a look at why you should buy into his Chase chance's and also why you should not. In the end, the decision is up to you.

Reason's to Buy In

We are talking about a driver for Hendrick Motorsports, what more do you need to buy in? We have seen time and time again in the last few years that HMS has some of the best engines in NASCAR right now.
Kahne has one at least one race in four straight seasons. He has won at least one race during every full time season with HMS. He has also won at least one race in 8 of his 11 full time season's. So, statistics say he is due to get a win, but will it come before the Chase?
Kahne still has time (7 races). Last year Kahne won the second to last race before the Chase to lock himself in (Atlanta). In the next 7 races he has a career total of 5 wins and has won at 4 of the 7 tracks.
The biggest reason to buy in? If the Chase started this weekend he would already be locked in. Really, a Chase spot is Kahne's to lose right now. As it stands today, he is 36 points ahead of the 16th driver (Aric Almirola) in the Chase Standings which means three other drivers are technically on the bubble before him (Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, and Aric Almirola).

Reason's to Sell

When, not if, Kyle Busch gets into the top 30 in points, it turns the Chase standings upside down. The WC (Wild Card) spots (spots decided on point alone) get thinner. The thought is, Gordon and McMurray (9th and 10th in points) are safe whether they win or not. So, the bubble starts at Kahne and that is a lot of pressure.
Not only do the non win ("WC") spots get smaller when Kyle makes the top 30, but they will also get smaller at any moment when a new 2015 winner gets a victory (I am looking at you future Watkins Glen winner). Last year it happened with AJ Allmendinger at WG and could again this year. The smaller the WC spots the more important it will be for Kahne to win.
Speaking of winning, last year his lone win was at Atlanta in the second to last race before the Chase. Well, in 2015 the schedule changed a bit and Atlanta has already be run, without a Kahne win. So, where does he get it now?
Kahne does have 5 wins total at four of the remaining seven tracks, but if he doesn't pull off a win where does he turn? On 6 of the 7 tracks he has an average finish of 15.8 or worse. Pocono, WG, Bristol, and RIR his average finish is 17.2 or worse. So, when he doesn't get a win, Kyle and a few other non winners go to victory lane, will he really have enough points to keep a WC spot without a win?