AUTO CLUB 500 NOTEBOOK: KAHNE HOPING TO BOUNCE BACK.Byline: Louis Brewster Staff Writer In 2004, Kasey Kahne Kasey Kahne (born April 10, 1980 in Enumclaw, Washington) is a race car driver in NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup Series. He currently drives the #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger/Dodge Avenger for Gillett Evernham Motorsports with teammates Scott Riggs and Elliott Sadler. earned Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
Kahne will start 13th in today's race after his run of 184.219 mph. ``I think I could have run faster in our Charger,'' Kahne said. ``It's a good starting spot for us. I'm really looking forward to it. It's good to be with a new team.'' Kahne and team owner Ray Everham spent the offseason studying what happened. ``There were a lot of different things we looked at during the offseason,'' Kahne said. ``I have a lot of sheets on points and what happened at what races. I made some mistakes and lost points in some of those races. Just having inconsistent race cars, we lost some with preparation. ``There was some inconsistency with the Dodge Charger There have been many different Dodge vehicles, on three different platforms, bearing the Charger nameplate. The name is generally associated with a performance model in the Dodge range, however it has also adorned mundane hatchbacks and sedans and a personal luxury coupe. we were trying to figure out. They were completely different race cars. Most of the time, our cars wouldn't turn. We gained a lot on that at the end of last season and during the offseason.'' --Kenseth, Vickers happy: Matt Kenseth Matthew Roy Kenseth (born March 10 1972) is a stock car racing driver for the Roush Fenway Racing team in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series. Kenseth was raised in Cambridge, Wisconsin. and Brian Vickers Brian Lee Vickers is an American NASCAR driver, from Thomasville, North Carolina. Vickers was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series. He currently drives the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry for Team Red Bull. were the fastest during the so-called Happy Hour, the final Nextel Cup practice before today's Auto Club 500. Kenseth, driving a Ford for Jack Roush Jack Roush (born April 19, 1942) is the founder, CEO, and co-owner along with John Henry of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises. , opened the session with a lap at 183.290 mph. He was not able to better the speed in his next 21 laps. Vickers also posted his fastest speed on the first of 21 laps. He pushed his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a speed of 181.046, slightly better than the 181.018 registered by pole sitter Kurt Busch. --Car in black: Don't look for Jeff Gordon in the usual red DuPont Chevrolet with flames. For today's race, the No. 24 Chevrolet will be black. ``DuPont and their Hot Hues brand put together the arrangement to have Chip Foose design and paint the car,'' Gordon said. ``Everybody in the street rod, hot rod industry knows this guy is a famous designer and is amazing with what he can do on a car. It is a privilege for us to be able to come and design a car and then put it in the paint booth and have him actually come in there and oversee the job. ``He wanted to be very hands-on, so that is very cool for us. He has been great to work with and has delivered a spectacular looking car.'' |
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