Kasey Kahne's turnaround Sprint Cup season keeps getting better
What a difference a year makes.
Through the first seven races of the 2014 season, Kasey Kahne was 19th in points with two top 10s and three finishes of 22nd or worse. This season, the 12-year Sprint Cup veteran has one top five, three top 10s and sits fifth in the standings.
Kahne admitted at this point last year the team was already "tapped out" after struggling, but now the Hendrick Motorsports driver knows there is still room to improve.
So far this weekend, Kahne has shown speed through each of the three practice sessions and will start Sunday's Food City 500 in Support of Steve Byrnes and Stand Up To Cancer from the eighth spot.
"I think we have a great car, we're close. We just need to put together a full race," Kahne said Saturday after final practice, where he was second-fastest.
Still looking for his first win of the season, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet knows a victory this early in the season would mean a lot.
Last year, Kahne battled frustration as the Chase cutoff was fast approaching. After a 35th-place finish at Bristol in August, Kahne secured a spot in the 16-driver Chase field with a key victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway two weeks before the Chase got underway.
Carrying much more momentum much earlier in the season, he knows a victory this early in the year would go a long way toward a more successful Chase and overall season.
"It'd be big for our whole team, momentum, to get in the Chase, I think it would be big all the way around," said Kahne. "To win at Bristol, it's such a tough place to win, so that'd be awesome to win here (Sunday)."
Kahne credits the early success to crew chief Keith Rodden, who returned to the team after working with Jamie McMurray at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in 2014.
"Keith Rodden just brought a lot to our team," he said. "Really that's been a huge part of it. I think the way myself and all the guys are preparing and working each weekend and excited again. I think it all helps. It's attitude, that's a big part of it, too. But I think Keith brought a lot of that, gave us that and we're all enjoying it."
While Kahne has had one of the strongest cars all weekend, he expects the race to be very competitive once the green flag drops. With the top groove as the preferred line, Kahne believes track position will be key throughout the race.
"With the smooth spot around the top, whoever gets to the lead on the short run can hold it," he said. "That's how they made this track, that's the best spot by far. Everybody can be fast leading if you can get there."
However, Kahne believes getting the car to handle well throughout an entire run will make the difference.
While Kahne is optimistic about his chances this weekend at Bristol, he also knows the team has what it takes to be a Chase contender and win races throughout the year.
"We're fast each week, and that's the only thing that matters," he said. "We'll get our fair share and we'll keep racing as hard as we can."
VIDEO: Kasey Kahne talks about why he's so optimistic heading into Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Bristol
