Last Lap: Kasey shows some can-do attitude
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
March 21, 2006
10:34 AM EST (15:34 GMT)


The evolution of the Kasey Kahne revolution intrigues me greatly. He's maturing right before our overzealous-turned-unforgiving eyes.

Think about it: This time last year, the kid's the second-coming, guaranteed a spot in the Chase by expert prognosticators, based largely on rationale that his freshman campaign shocked the world to the tune of six runner-up finishes and a near-miss run at the Waldorf stage.

(Actually, he graced the Waldorf stage to accept the Cup Series rookie of the year award. But you know what I mean. Remember that speech? Pure teleprompter hell. Deer in the headlights. Uncomfortable for the guests, much less Kahne.)

Anyway, I digress. Last year didn't pan out. Kahne bombed.

The 9 bunch won Richmond in May, a distinguished pinnacle in a lowly season -- arguably the Cup Series' most disappointing last year. Kahne doesn't disagree. He was ticked.

When the season ended, he requested the bossman leave him be for a couple weeks. He needed to decompress, reevaluate, reassess -- ponder life outside the cockpit.

"I wasn't happy," Kahne said. "I was disappointed in the way I'd raced throughout the season. I was disappointed in the way myself and the team had worked together at times, and I wanted a break."

During that break, Kahne contemplated the variables required to foster improvement. Upon return from vacation, he spent long hours with new team leaders Kenny Francis and Mike Shiplette, opening the line of communication and setting goals.

He also spent time alone studying the tactics and tendencies of those he most admired. Tony Stewart. Mark Martin. The like. He was as prepared and confident as ever.

But this year would be daunting. Team owner Ray Evernham made the proactive decision to do away with the traditional crew chief in favor of a three-man directorial hierarchy on each of his teams.

The decision was met with skepticism, but Evernham felt it best to structure his business model like that of many major corporations -- give each man significant responsibility in his respective field of expertise and work cohesively to achieve maximum output.

It's working. For Kahne, anyway. Jeremy Mayfield is struggling and Scott Riggs is playing catch-up, battling through multiple mechanical failures to start the year.

Francis is a very smart man, and understands well that today's NASCAR is entirely too overbearing to micromanage personnel. Crew chiefs must delegate responsibility. That's easier said than done for some guys that spend entire careers working towards becoming a crew chief.

Francis doesn't concern himself with such things. He wants to win races. Likewise for Kahne.

Monday's victory at Atlanta elevated Kahne to second in the championship standings, 50 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. Not surprisingly, both drivers share a common strategic thread this year. Each has altered his approach: Settle down. Let it come to you.

"Today for example, we started on the pole and by lap 150 or so we were maybe ninth or 10th, and struggling," Kahne said. "I didn't get upset. I think maybe last year I would have been so upset starting on the pole and getting passed by eight or nine or 10 cars, and knowing guys other guys behind me were faster.

"I would have worn my tires out quicker or spun out, or maybe hit the wall in Turn 4. Little things like that -- getting over-aggressive. You can't get over-aggressive in a 500-mile race if you want to finish strong in the end."

Finishing strong at the end of the year is the goal. Many months must pass, of course, before the season's true grade can be assessed. But for now Kahne is right back atop the gaga list.

And the maturation continues ...

Random thought while sipping green beer Friday evening: Todd Bodine is NASCAR's Lazarus. This guy's career has been raised from the dead more times than Mariah Carey's.

And rightfully so. Bodine may not fit the new Cup Series mold -- he's not a glamorous pitchman. But he's dang sure a wheelman. That four-wide pass to win the John Deere 200 was absolutely ridiculous.

It's not every day a pass compels me to get out of my seat. That one did.

Tanya: A friend of mine has a Jimmie Johnson desk calendar, and each day it has a bit of "useless information" that she passes along to a group of us. Some days it's very interesting, some days it's like, "DUH!" But I digress.

Today's info said this: The three-year rule means you cannot use a body of a car that is more than three years. Why is that? I would think that as long as the body fit the templates, you should be able to use it.

Could you shed a little light on this for us?

This three-year rule was news to me, too, so I summoned the expertise of NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton for a bit of clarity.

Pemberton told me this rule indeed limits the eligibility of Nextel Cup car bodies to three years, mainly in the attempt to ensure that cars on the racetrack resemble cars on the road, and can be inspected under current NASCAR rules.

The Dodge Intrepid is the perfect example. This is the final year of eligibility for the Intrepid body. Makes sense. The production model is extinct. Notice that the nose on Ryan Newman's No. 12 car reads "Dodge" rather than "Intrepid," while the Charger nose touts the model.

This rule was more important back in the day, too. With the introduction of common templates, it is borderline obsolete now.

I was too late for your Las Vegas letters, but I couldn't help but notice that Jimmie Johnson almost rolled his car doing his slide across the grass. I'm sure I saw two tires come off the ground.

Anyway, what would happen in J.J. had won, but then rolled or destroyed his car in the victory burnout segment? It certainly wouldn't pass tech after the race, so would they allow the win? Help me out here. Thanks!

NASCAR would deal with every case individually, certainly, but judging by last year's spring race at Dover International Speedway it seems to me Johnson would keep the victory.

Greg Biffle won the MBNA RacePoints 400 last June, then backed the 16 in the fence during his burnout, completely destroyed the rear end of the National Guard Ford.

The template fit like OJ's glove in post race inspection, but Biffle kept the trophy, the points and the loot. Then again, unlike the 48 team currently, Biffle's team wasn't under the microscope, either.

Cliff: I noticed that in the results listed at NASCAR.COM after the race in Las Vegas, Kenny Wallace was listed as finishing 38th. Usually 38th position earns 49 points. However, Kenny was credited with "PE" for his point total.

What does that mean? In the Driver Standings area, he was credited with 0 points for Las Vegas but no explanation for this was offered. Could you fill me in? Why is there no love for Herman?

More than 100 people submitted this question. PE stands for post-entry, meaning Crazy Herm's Nextel Cup team failed to submit its entry blank for the event prior to deadline.

When this occurs, teams may still compete in an event but are ineligible to receive championship points for the effort.

Chris: I was hoping you could help me with something. I came across an old autograph book I had from a trip to Pocono Raceway back in, I believe, 1982. I went with my some of my second grade class. My teacher was a huge Darrell Waltrip fan, and we got to meet him and his crew.

I have autographs from Junior Johnson, John Hill, Nelson White, Jeff Hammond, Mike Hill and Doug Richards. I'd like to know who else was on his crew that year, am I missing any autographs?

Also, I got some random autographs from other drivers. There is one I can NOT figure out. It looks like Mark Martin but I'm not sure. It looks like the car number written next to the name is 22.

I can't find any info on Mark driving a 22 car in 1982. Could I have the name wrong? Could I have the number wrong? It's driving me crazy!

I consulted with one of our senior editors about this, Chris, and I'm quite certain your phantom autograph is, indeed, Mark Martin. Martin drove the No. 02 Apache Stove Buicks and Pontiacs in 1982, in every race but one -- Rockingham, when he drove the No. 37 for reasons I've yet to determine.

Country music legend Marty Robbins drove the No. 22 in a pair of events in 1982, but Pocono wasn't one of them.

Y'all be good. Finally, some good ol' short track racing ...