By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
In this week’s edition of Throwback Thursday, Kickin’ The Tires relives when NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 5 for Hendrick Motorsports on July 23, 2017.
It was the first time since August 31, 2014 when the Cup Series was at Atlanta Motor Speedway that Kahne found victory lane.
To be more specific, it had been 102 races and almost three years later.
However, the day wouldn’t come without some issues for Kahne.
The driver of the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet for Rick Hendrick’s Hendrick Motorsports told his team he was cramping up about an hour before the event ended.
Crew chief, Keith Rodden told Kahne to “Take some deep breaths. Breathe.”
It was an awfully long day in brutal heat for Kahne and the other competitors.
With seven cautions in the final 18 laps of the event, it was taking an even harsher toll on Kahne’s body.
Kahne would pass Brad Keselowski on the inside during the second overtime restart. The pass came moments before another crash occurred at the back of the pack and before NASCAR could call the 14th caution of the day.
End result, race over, Kahne finally finds victory lane again in the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Due to not feeling well, and the constant cramping, Kahne did have to receive some care at the infield care center post-race.
“To win at Indy is unbelievable, I wish my son Tanner was here.”, said Kahne.
(Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
“Today, strategy got us here. This Farmers Insurance Chevrolet was great once I got out front. I just had to get there. I’m exhausted. But, an unbelievable win. The team just kept working. We had great pit stops.”
Career Update:
Kasey Kahne would announce on August 7, 2017 that he wouldn’t return to Hendrick Motorsports the following season. In September, Kahne announced he would join Leavine Family Racing in their No. 95 for the 2018 season.
Kahne would go on to race in just 25 of 36 events in 2018 and made an announcement in August of 2018 that he would step away from full-time racing competition at the end of the year.
However, Kahne would find himself sidelined for a number of races due to medical issues with Regan Smith filling in in the No.95 with Kahne’s last race in the MENCS being the 2018 Bojangles Southern 500 from Darlington Raceway.
Over 15 years and 529 MENCS starts, Kahne amassed 18 wins, 93 Top-5s, 176 Top-10s and 27 poles.
Kahne also has 215 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series over a 16-year span, claiming eight wins, 46 Top-5s, 87 Top-10s and nine pole awards.
In the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, Kahne found victory lane five times in only six starts to go along with 6 Top-5s, 6 Top-10s and one pole award.
Kahne is still active with his own race team, Kasey Kahne Racing which competes in the World of Outlaws series and fields two sprint cars for himself and Brad Sweet.