Pocono races tend to be very uninteresting.
Anything you want to see typically happens early and maybe at the end. There isn’t usually anything “that interesting” in the middle, just a whole lot of racing. This weekend was no exception.
During Friday’s Cup practice session and qualifying, it was Kasey Kahne’s No. 9 Dodge on top. Kahne picked up his first pole of the season; he was the only driver to top 170 miles per hour around the tri-oval that is known as Pocono Raceway.
“It was perfect,” Kahne said after taking his qualifying laps.
Kahne continued to call his car “perfect” throughout both of Saturday’s practice sessions in which he was in the Top Five.
Carl Edwards, who would start sixth, was top of the charts at the conclusion of both of Saturday’s practice sessions with his No. 99 Ford.
Jimmie Johnson drove his No. 48 Chevrolet past Kahne’s Dodge as the race started Sunday and took the lead. Kahne, however, didn’t let Johnson get out of his sight. The two — mere seconds apart — drove away from the rest of the pack.
Kahne was able to pull alongside Johnson 16 laps later and take the lead away from him. He made it look effortless, and once he got out front, Kahne pulled away from Johnson.
Eleven laps later, a caution for debris sent everyone to the pits. Kahne didn’t get out first, but was close enough that after the green flag flew, it only took him five laps to get around his former teammate, Scott Riggs (No. 66 Chevrolet).
Again, Kahne pulled away from the pack but the lead was lost after the second caution. The yellow flag came out because Kurt Busch spun his No. 2 Dodge across the grass in turn one.
Kahne ended up in the Top 10 after the pit stop with Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 1 Chevrolet out front. Truex Jr. was quickly passed by Jimmie Johnson, but the lead and green flag run was short-lived. Kurt’s brother, Kyle (No. 18 Toyota), got into Jamie McMurray’s No. 26 Ford.
Busch said he didn’t see McMurray partly because his mirror was broken. His car ended up with the nose smashed, and it was replaced with an plain yellow nose (no decals). He finished the race in last place — 43rd.
The race restarted, and just like the previous green flag run, it was short-lived. Sam Hornish Jr. ran his No. 77 Dodge into the back of Patrick Carpentier’s No. 10 Dodge. Neither appeared to have much damage, if any at all.
After taking the opportunity to pit, Kahne came out of the pits fifth, but suddenly his team director (known by other teams as a crew chief), Kenny Francis came over the radio to tell Kahne that he must come back down pit road.
Kahne did not ask why before Francis told him, it was his (Francis’) fault. Initially Francis told the pit crew and the team to take four tires, but quickly changed the call to two tires in order to get track position. He did not see, out of the corner of his eye, that the front tire changer began to take the lug nuts off of the left front tire before calling the stop and releasing Kahne to leave.
Kahne came down pit road, got the one lug nut (only one was actually missing) put back on and returned to the pack. He was fortunate enough not to go a lap down, but was at the end of the “longest line” in 38th place.
As the race restarted, Kahne quickly passed each car. By the time the fifth caution for a multi-car wreck came out, he had passed more than 10 cars.
He would continue to make a move through a few more cautions and a set of green-flag pit stops before finally putting himself back into the Top Five.
Making his way around Johnson and Tony Stewart, Kahne took the lead again. He lost the lead 22 laps later after making another green flag pit stop, but, again, raced his way to the front.
The pivotal moment came when Kahne pitted on lap 175 during the green flag to gas up. Moments later, Kyle Busch went spinning through the grass to bring out the 10th and final caution of the day. Kahne had enough gas to make it all the way and was now third.
The green flag flew again, this time with Brian Vickers’ No. 83 Toyota out front. Vickers held off Johnson who was attempting to hold off Kahne, but it was to no avail. Kahne got around Johnson almost exactly the way he did the first time on lap 17 — effortlessly.
Kahne had Vickers in sight, drove up on him and passed him with with 16 laps remaining in the 200-lap race. He pulled away from the pack and was not threatened by another driver.
After leading more laps than anyone, 69, Kahne and his still “perfect” No. 9 Dodge, took the checkered flag under smoldering condition and, for the third time in four weeks. It was the second win this year in a points event and the ninth victory in his Cup career. He moved gracefully from the bottom of the Top 12 to ninth in the point standings.
I have to admit, it was pretty amazing to watch. I have never been a fan of Pocono. I tend to fall asleep or take care of chores and tasks that I need to get done.
Sunday would have been no exception, really, until I realized my driver could win again. He did!
OK, I didn’t want to give it away, but after an amazing month of wins and the frustration of trying to keep it to myself, I just couldn’t. You caught me! Kasey Kahne, the driver of the No. 9 Dodge, is and has always been my favorite driver. I imagine he always will be.
I must add that I am desperately hoping the recent consistency continues and he makes the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the second time. And, possibly gives Kyle Busch a run for his money!
Don’t miss:
From Kentucky and Michigan
- Sprint Cup qualifying, Friday at 3 p.m. on SPEED
- Meijer 300 (Nationwide race), Saturday night at 7 on ESPN2
- LifeLock 400 (Sprint Cup race), Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on TNT
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