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ALL-STAR: Kahne Looking For Repeat
Kasey Kahne won the 2008 Sprint All-Star Race after being voted in by the fans...
Mike Hembree  |  Posted May 17, 2011   Charlotte, NC
Kasey Kahne is yet to win this year with Red Bull Racing. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
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Kasey Kahne has a special spot in the long and drama-filled history of the Sprint All-Star Race.

In 2008, Kahne did not have a starting place in the event, but he was voted in by fans.

Then he returned the favor by certifying their confidence in him, winning the race.

It’s the only time since fans have been involved in placing a driver in the event that the driver chosen has won the race.

This year Kahne is in on his own merit (and Dale Earnhardt Jr. probably will be the pick of the fan ballots). In his first – and only – season with Red Bull Racing, he has had fast cars and figures to have a shot in the $1 million-to-win race.

“It’s a neat race,” Kahne said Tuesday. “This weekend is always a lot of fun. It’s the kind of race where you don’t have to worry about points – just trying to win and put on a good show for the fans.”

The All-Star weekend is a mix of competition and planning. Since testing is not allowed at tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule, the All-Star race and the its practices give teams a good look at their cars and setups for the Coca-Cola 600 the following week.

“It’s a neat weekend where you can learn some things for the 600 and at the same time win some money and have a big weekend,” Kahne said. “It’s an enjoyable way to qualify, getting the team involved. That whole process we do on Friday is always a blast.”

Kahne referred to Friday’s qualifying format, which puts the drivers on track for a three-lap time-trial run that includes a pit stop for four tires.

An All-Star race victory would put a nice notch in what is an unusual season for Kahne. He is driving for Red Bull this year while he waits for a vacancy in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Kahne is scheduled to move into that car next season when Mark Martin vacates.

Kasey Kahne celebrates in victory lane after winning the 2008 Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Kahne has had some strong runs this year but hasn’t been able to corral all the positives into one weekend to score a win. He finished fourth two weekends ago at Darlington Raceway after leading 124 laps.

“We’ve had some good cars and good runs,” Kahne said. “But I really feel like I gave the race away at Darlington. I hit the wall. A lot of guys did. But mine was hard enough that it took some of the speed away. That was a mistake.

“I think we’ve done a good job. The guys have done a good job. We’re getting better each weekend. I feel like we should have a win, but I feel like we’re a top-five car. We’ve been right there.”

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 29 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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