News Article

Kasey Kahne at the top of the charts in Happy Hour practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

September 26, 2009
Brian Smith

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Third practice & Happy Hour practice

After a nightmarish start to his "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship last week, Kasey Kahne is hoping that Saturday’s Happy Hour practice is a sign that things are looking up.

Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Budweiser Dodge

Kahne, No. 9 Budweiser Dodge, had the fastest lap in the final practice for Sunday’s "AAA 400" at Dover International Speedway, turning a circuit of 23.682 seconds for an average speed of 152.014 mph. Kahne, who broke a crankshaft last week at New Hampshire and finished 38th to put him at the bottom of the Chase standings, has been steadily climbing all weekend. After running one of the slowest practice speeds on Friday, Kahne recovered to qualify sixth for Sunday’s event.

Kurt Busch, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, ran the fastest lap in the NASCAR Sprint Cup morning session, running a lap of 23.524 seconds for a speed of 153.035 mph. Busch, who qualified 16th, was seventh fastest in final practice.

Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Polaroid Chevrolet who’s participating in his first Chase, was nothing if not consistent. After qualifying second for Sunday’s race, he also ran second fastest in both the morning and afternoon practice sessions.

Juan Pablo Montoya's No. 42 during practice

Pole sitter Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet was consistent as well, placing fourth in the morning practice and fifth in Happy Hour. Points leader Mark Martin, who will start 14th, climbed the ladder over the course of the day as well. He was 12th in the morning session and jumped to fourth fastest in the afternoon.

Rookie Joey Logano, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota, had an impressive Happy Hour practice, hopping up to the third-fastest position, just an eyelash ahead of Martin. Logano, one of two rookies in Sunday’s field, will start 11th.

NASCAR Nationwide Series - Qualifying recap

After lurking about in the top-10 during Friday’s practice sessions, Kyle Busch found a little something extra during Saturday’s qualifying for the 200-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Busch took the track in the last third of qualifying and demolished the standard that Carl Edwards had set, circling the Monster Mile in 23.360 seconds for an average speed of 154.110 miles per hour. That’s four-tenths of a second and three miles per hour faster than Edwards, who posted a time of 23.707 seconds and 151.854 mph to take the second spot. In fact, either of Busch’s two laps would have beaten Edwards.

Busch had a strong weekend at Dover in May, racing in all three events, but didn’t win any of them. He led 108 laps in the NASCAR Nationwide race but wrecked while leading with two laps to go.  Later that same day, he led 133 laps in the NASCAR Camping World truck series race, only to fall back with a flat tire.  

Busch and Edwards are 1-2 in the points race as well, with Busch looking for his first Nationwide series championship. Busch holds a 201-point lead heading into the Dover 200.