Bristol, Tenn.,—Kasey Kahne is more than disappointed, the newest addition to Hendrick Motorsports is discouraged following an early race accident in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
On lap 23 Kahne moved up the track in front of Regan Smith, but was not quite clear. As Smith slowed to avoid contact Brad Keselowski nudged Smith, who made contact with Kahne causing the No. 5 to spin down the track in front of traffic. Keselowski avoided contact, but the accident gathered up Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Marcos Ambrose, Regan Smith, and Kyle Busch.
“It’s really disappointing and discouraging to have as fast of racecars that I’ve had, and have nothing to show for it,” said Kahne from the garage.
“I knew as soon as my spotter cleared me in the center that I was going to be clear on exit he said all clear, good to go,” Kahne added. “So I get to the exit and I knew Reagan was slow and then he was back there. I listened too much to my spotter I guess.”
Edwards said the accident was frustrating, but understood how things of this nature happen—especially at a short track.
“I think Regan (Smith) was battling with that same thing we all battle with here which is should you let the guy go, or keep racing him,” said Edwards. “Kasey (Kahne) probably though he was clear and that ended up in a wreck.”
“It is hard to put 43 cars on a half-mile going this fast and not wreck,” added Edwards. “It’s too bad it happened this early.”
Edwards finished 39th, Smith finished 24th and Kahne was 37th. Ambrose was 36th and Kyle Busch finished 32nd. Harvick rebounded for an 11th place finish.
“This is the worst way I could start a season,” Kahne added. “I have the fastest car every single week and something happens.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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