Kahne wins one for the fans at the All Star Race
Quote selected text Published May 17th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Kasey Kahne technically wasn’t eligible to run the All-Star race. He didn’t let that stop him from stealing the $1 million prize.
Kahne earned his berth in Saturday night’s show not through accomplishment on the track, but in a popularity contest that permitted one driver voted on by the fans to compete in the main event.
It gave Kahne a chance to run in the 100-lap shootout, which was intermittently dominated by Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
With a gamble on the final pit stop, Kahne put the field in his rearview mirror to become the first driver ever voted in by the fans to win, and just the third driver in All-Star history to advance from the preliminary race and claim the final trophy at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
“I thank them so much. I can’t believe it. The car was mediocre in the open and the fans voted me in,” said Kahne, who finished fifth in the Sprint Showdown.
Kahne didn’t take tires to advance his position and restart in second when the final 25-lap segment began. Biffle, who had led the final 11 laps of the third segment, took two tires and was mired back in traffic on the restart.
Biffle never got a chance to run down Kahne, who slid past leader Jimmie Johnson to lead the final 17 laps and claim the victory and credit crew chief Kenny Francis with the winning pit strategy.
“We took our time, got in the right place and Kenny made the right call of no tires at the end,” Kahne said. “I didn’t think we needed them. The car was exceptional. I was just making sure I didn’t make any stupid mistakes and lose the race.”
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UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:
FIN, ST, CAR, DRIVER, MAKE, SPONSOR, PTS/BNS, LAPS, STATUS
1 24 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser PE 100 Running
2 5 16 Greg Biffle Ford DISH Network PE 100 Running
3 14 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT NANO Technology PE 100 Running
4 21 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s / Kobalt Tools PE 100 Running
5 12 20 Tony Stewart Toyota The Home Depot PE 100 Running
6 8 12 Ryan Newman Dodge Alltel PE 100 Running
7 23 77 Sam Hornish Jr. * Dodge Mobil 1 PE 100 Running
8 11 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Nat’l Guard Citizen Soldier / AMP Energy PE 100 Running
9 13 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army PE 100 Running
10 19 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot PE 100 Running
11 16 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Pennzoil Platinum PE 100 Running
12 10 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker PE 100 Running
13 17 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet Kellogg’s / CARQUEST PE 100 Running
14 15 42 Juan Montoya Dodge Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit PE 100 Running
15 2 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont PE 100 Running
16 4 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker PE 100 Running
17 22 84 A.J. Allmendinger Toyota Red Bull PE 100 Running
18 9 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel’s PE 100 Running
19 6 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal PE 100 Running
20 7 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility PE 100 Running
21 3 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite PE 100 Running
22 18 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS PE 100 Running
23 20 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Freight PE 84 Out of Race
24 1 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s PE 50 Out of Race
- Kahne voted in by the fans to race in the All Star Main Event
- Fan Voting for All-Star Race driver close
- All Star winner interview: Kasey Kahne
- Kahne hopes to ride momentum from All Star win in Coke 600
- All-star race will stay in Charlotte for now
Well at the beginning of the year I jokingly said that Jr would win only 3 race, the Shootout, A Duel and the All-Star race….. Well I guess 2 out of 3 isn’t bad….l0l
From the little bit of the race I watched (was watching the House Marathon on USA) it seemed like Bobby was having a good run, and I think that between the truck race yesterday and the race tonight with Kahne not changing tires on the last stop, that this asphalt has really come in and is in its prime right now.
I had to wipe the tear away from my eye when Kyle Busch had engine problems. Poor little fella.
Its not like anybody gained any points on him though…. l0l
I think he was trying to pull a DW but it didn’t work out.
MRN dropped the ball, commercials ALL throughout the last segment, i got to watch the first 3 and it was good but on my way to work i was listening… they seriously only played the last 4 laps of the last segment
ugh…. damn names
MRN dropped the ball, commercials ALL throughout the last segment, i got to watch the first 3 and it was good but on my way to work i was listening… they seriously only played the last 4 laps of the last segment
I didn’t get to see the race. Glad Kahne won. Thought it was pretty funny that Busch lost and engine and finished last He deserved what he got. Just hope it happens in all races for the rest of the year.
Good job kahne! He played it really smart!
i was kinda rootin for Kahne. im glad he won..i just thought it was funny that the guy that started first finished last and the guy that started last finished first lol
Well whatta you know? A Dodge won! Kasey did a great job. I can’t say I wasn’t sad when KyBu broke. Did anyone pay attention to DW and an experimental engine package he kept talking about? If Gibbs was experimenting, this would’ve been the time. Then again, I can’t see KyBu possibly willing to take a dive with a cool million on the line. All the Roush cars had good moments and I hope DJ stays retired after this one. I don’t want to see him get hurt.
Nice going Kasey. I think the a middle of the pack car won but I am happy that Busch wasn’t even in the running. .
They need more fixed races, with Busch out of the shot.