Budweiser Racing Team Notes of Interest
Fresh off his best finish of the season at Michigan (second), Kasey Kahne and the No. 9 Budweiser Ford team return to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., this weekend as the defending winners at the 1.99-mile road course.
Last year Kahne started fifth at Infineon and led 34 laps en route to scoring his first win of the season, and his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win on a road course.
In six previous races at Infineon Raceway, Kahne has scored one pole award (2008), one win (2009) and led a total of 38 laps. His average start at the track is 12.7 and his average finish is 26.7.
Crew chief Kenny Francis was named WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race for last weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway. Francis helped lead the team to a second-place finish at the two-mile track.
Kasey Kahne discusses going back to Sonoma after winning last year’s race:
You surprised a lot of people last year in Sonoma. Talk about going back there this year.
“It was definitely a surprise last year and we felt really strong the whole race. Hopefully we can unload similar this year. It will be a little different with the new engine and see how it runs. I have always liked Sonoma, even when I didn’t run well there. I have always enjoyed racing there and trying to learn that type of racing. Hopefully we can put another top 10 together. There is a lot that goes on there that you don’t have control over. There is a lot that goes on that you do have control of as well. Hopefully we can get some luck and put together a good race.”
Does last year’s win give you confidence going into this year’s race?
“I definitely feel confident going out there. We’ve qualified well there the last few races and won there. I have gained great confidence at that track. I think that took a little bit of the intimidation out of that place. It is an extremely tough place to race because it is such a different concept to what we normally do, but I would say I definitely have confidence based on how we have been there the last few times out. My team behind me did a great job there when we beat Tony off the pits and held him off for the victory. It is important to have a solid team behind you to be successful there at Sonoma.”
What do you consider the hardest part about a road course, or Sonoma in particular?
“The hardest part at Sonoma is tough to pinpoint. I think that every part of it is hard. There is a lot going on there and we don’t race that type of stuff too often. You have to really be on your game and you need the whole team to be right there behind you and working with you the whole time. There is a lot that goes on there at that race track. For an oval guy like myself, I think the whole course is where I need to really keep my eyes open. One little mistake there and you will lose a lot.”
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