Kasey Kahne Wins Coca-Cola 600, Following $1 Million All-Star Win

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Kasey Kahne Wins Coca-Cola 600, Following $1 Million All-Star Win

25 May 2008 0 views

Kasey Kahne Celebrates Coca-Cola 600 Win - (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Kasey Kahne is on a bit of a roll these days. After needing a fan vote to get him into last week’s All-Star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Kasey took full advantage enroute to a victory and $1 million dollar payday.

Kahne followed up his All-Star win Sunday night w/ a late victory to win the Coca-Cola 600 (also at Lowe’s). Today’s race was the longest of the racing season – a true test of driving skills, mechanical expertise and a bit of luck. The Coca-Cola 600 spans 3 different parts of the day (mid-day, transition to night & night itself) and requires a lot of adapting and patience.

Had the Home Depot car, #20 Tony Stewart, not flattened a tire in the waning laps, Kasey Kahne would still have been looking at a #2 finish – not bad for a driver who’s been struggling for the past 2 years, following a great year in 2006 (6 total victories). With only a few laps left, Stewart hit the wall and surrendered the lead to Kahne, who cruised to the victory once conceded by the #20 car.

Kahne is definitely on the rise again – he’s been my Mom’s favorite driver for several years, as well as a driver that I have tried to follow closely. He is young and the ladies like him – if he keeps up his recent hot streak (he’s only 6 points out of the Chase), then you’ll want to be sure to pick up some Kasey Kahne apparel & merchandise.

With the victory, Kahne moves into 12th place for this year’s chase, only 406 points out of 1st place. Other drivers who made moves this week are Kevin Harvick (up 2 spots to #7), Matt Kenseth (up 4 spots to #16) and Jimmie Johnson (down 3 to #9). Fan favorite (besides Kahne of course), Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 5th in the 600 and sits in the 3rd position for the Chase, down just 139 points.