NASCAR Cup Series

Kahne needs to forget bad start

Published Mar. 20, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

Jeff Hammond

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story was attributed to Larry McReynolds. We apologize for the error.

One of the biggest surprises of our 2012 season so far, and not in a good way, is the struggles of Kasey Kahne in the No. 5 car. I think if I were him, I would go someplace and have an exorcism and get rid of whatever demons are affecting their program.

This is simply another one of those head-scratching situations. With Kasey it really seems to be a case of so much bad luck. Look at what happened early on Sunday at Bristol. It could have easily gone the other way, but a mental mistake by Kasey and his spotter cost them dearly.

That’s one of the things you constantly hear us talk about when describing Bristol – things just happen so fast there. The risk/reward in that situation definitely favored the risk and unfortunately it bit the No. 5 car and affected other cars as well. You saw a perfect example of racing at the wrong place at the wrong time.

If you don’t think Kasey is taking this serious and personal, just go watch his interview again Sunday after the wreck. Everything that has happened since Speedweeks in Daytona is taking its toll on Kasey. As we always say, NASCAR is about momentum and confidence and unfortunately the No. 5 car has neither.

Quite honestly, Hendrick Motorsports as a whole doesn’t have a lot of bright spots right now. Sunday we saw Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his teammate Jeff Gordon get together late in the race and it cost both probably a top-10 finish, if not top-five finishes.

So you had Kasey with his problems at the beginning of the race and then Jeff and Junior have their problems together at the end of the race. Separate from the problem those three had is their remaining teammate Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48.

He’s actually carrying the Hendrick flag right now but they are still trying to dig themselves out of huge hole from Daytona. Not only were they wrecked out of the Daytona 500 and had a 42nd place finish, but then following that, they were cited for a “C Post” infraction, which cost them 25 points and possibly their crew chief, car chief and a bunch of money.

You have to admire, though, how Jimmie has been handling it. Sunday at Bristol he finished ninth and it was his third consecutive top-10 finish. That’s pretty impressive for a team that has the weight of the world and the scrutiny of NASCAR all over it.

Those three top-10 finishes have been as timely as any in his career. Jimmie has raced that car back up to 17th in the points. Sunday alone was a six-position jump in the points for the No. 48 team.

So now Kasey and his team are finding themselves in the same type of hole as Jimmie. This will be a true test of Kasey as a driver and Kasey as a leader of that team. How he handles the adversity this early in the season will dictate how the rest of the year will go.

Personally, I believe Kasey and crew chief Kenny Francis will get things turned around. Remember, winning is a powerful antibiotic. Winning and running well cures all ills. They can’t panic or throw their hands in the air and quit.

They need to take it one step at a time, starting this weekend in Fontana. They need to keep their nose clean and have a good race weekend. You heard race winner Brad Keselowski say Sunday that he believes it will take two race wins to make the Chase Wild-Card spots this year. Well, I believe Kasey can win at least two races this year.

Kasey really doesn’t have to look any farther than Tony Stewart in 2011. Tony ran just well enough to rack up enough points to remain in the Top 10 and qualify for last year’s Chase. A couple opportunities to put some wins on the board slipped through his fingers. It wasn’t until the Chase started that Tony caught fire, won five of the 10 Chase races and won the championship.

Tony should be an example to Kasey, or any team that is struggling right now, as to what “could happen.” Tony’s performance in 2011 makes him the poster child of “Never, never, never quit.”

Kasey is the one that has to tell himself it can happen. Sure, car owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Kenny Francis will be telling him that, but the reality is they are expected to. Kasey is the one that has to see it, feel it and believe it. It really does all start and end with Kasey right now.

The best thing that can happen to Kasey right now is a case of amnesia. Just like that shut-down cornerback in the NFL that got burned for a touchdown, Kasey has to forget about it and move on. He can’t bring those first four races back.

Kasey is 32nd in the points and 100 points out of the lead. Focus on one race at a time. Don’t dwell on “woulda, coulda, shoulda” at Bristol. He needs to put all his energy into focusing on a good solid run at Fontana this weekend. Kasey has to believe in his ability as a race car driver. Kasey has to believe in his ability to lead this team and turn it around. If does that, then the No. 5 car will be just fine.

I’ve had the very good fortune of working with some Hall of Fame drivers. They always seemed to have the innate ability to reach deep inside when things weren’t going well and find something that propelled them forward.

That time is now for Kasey Kahne. He has a car owner that believes in him. He has a team and crew chief that believe in him. He has all the resources at his fingertips that any race car driver would ever desire. Now is the time for Kasey Kahne to show all of us, actually what we already know, that he is an amazing race car driver.