Post by elp525 on Jun 22, 2009 5:53:59 GMT -5
By Sporting News Wire Service
June 22, 2009
12:02 AM EDT
SONOMA, Calif. -- How strange was it for Kasey Kahne to win a road-course race?
The driver of the No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge had to ask his crew chief for directions to Victory Lane after taking the checkered flag in a green-white-checkered finish in Sunday's Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Infineon Raceway.
Toyota/SaveMart 350
Results
Pos. Driver Make
1. Kasey Kahne Dodge
2. Tony Stewart Chevrolet
3. Marcos Ambrose Toyota
4. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet
5. Denny Hamlin Toyota
Results | Laps | Photos | RewindKahne held off road-course ace Tony Stewart through a succession of four late-race, double-file restarts (watch video), the final time after Scott Speed's spin on Lap 108 caused the seventh caution of the day. After starting from the rear because of an engine change, Marcos Ambrose chased the top two finishers to the line to claim third place, matching the best result of his Sprint Cup Series career.
"Awesome -- not too bad for a dirt-tracker from Washington!" Kenny Francis, Kahne's crew chief, radioed after his driver crossed the stripe on Lap 113, three laps beyond the scheduled distance at the 1.99-mile road course.
"Unreal," replied Kahne, who gave owner Richard Petty his first victory since John Andretti in 1999. "Gosh, we had to hold him [Stewart] off for a while. We won a road-course race! Oh, my God, I can't believe this."
Jimmie Johnson recovered from a pit-road speeding penalty to finish fourth. Denny Hamlin, who led 33 laps -- second only to Kahne's 37 -- came home fifth. Juan Montoya, A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon and Elliott Sadler completed the top 10.
The victory was Kahne's first of the season and the 10th of his Cup Series career. Before Sunday's race, his highest finish on a road course was 14th at Watkins Glen.
"It was crazy," Kahne said, after following Francis' directions to Victory Lane, where he was met by Petty.
"I feel just as good as he does," said the King, clad in his trademark cowboy hat and sunglasses. "It's great, man. It's great."
Petty's race team teetered on the verge of collapse at the end of last season and needed a January merger with Gillett Evernham Motorsports to stay in business. The team was re-branded as Richard Petty Motorsports and kicked off the season with a strong showing at the Daytona 500.
