Kahne Wins Rain-Shortened Race at Michigan [SIZE=5]
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By MIKE HARRIS , 06.18.2006, 05:24 PM
Kasey Kahne won from the pole again, helped this time by a timely caution flag and a downpour that ended Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race 71 laps early.
Kahne, earning a series-best fourth victory of the season and his third from the top qualifying spot, fell behind on lap 47 when he had to make a green-flag stop after debris accumulated on the grill of his No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge, overheating the motor.
That knocked the popular 26-year-old youngster, the 2004 Cup rookie of the year, back to 38th in the 43-car field, a lap behind the leaders. But a caution for light rain just seven laps later allowed Kahne to regain the lead lap and he quickly drove back into contention.
Meanwhile, Carl Edwards, who had two top-five finishes on the 2-mile Michigan oval last year in his first full season in Cup, moved to the front in his No. 99 Roush Racing Ford and appeared to be the car to beat.
On lap 112 of the race scheduled to go 200 laps, Kahne barely beat Edwards out of the pits in a battle for fourth place under a caution flag - one of a track record-tying nine yellows.
After the green flag fell on lap 116, Kahne, who had taken four fresh tires, quickly chased down rookie Reed Sorenson, who had taken the lead under the final caution by taking only two tires. Kahne drove into the lead on lap 117 and pulled away from Edwards, who got past the fading Sorenson on the next lap.
The last caution flag came out because of rain on lap 124 and, when the heavy rain began on lap 129, NASCAR stopped the cars with a red flag. Minutes later, the race was called.
"It's pretty crazy to win in the rain and be in the right place at the end," Kahne said. "But we did have the best car."
He did throughout the weekend, despite crashing during the final practice session on Saturday, forcing his team to repair the right side of the fast Charger.
Edwards finished second, his best finish of the season, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., defending race winner Greg Biffle, Sorenson and series points leader Jimmie Johnson.
