Kahne gives fans their money’s worth

By John Bassetti

Tony Stewart had more to say about dirt racing than NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series.

HARTFORD — Will K.K. wrest away the title from J.J. in 2008?

Kasey Kahne couldn’t answer that definitively, but the 28-year-old NASCAR Sprint Cup money leader could very well do something about it before the season is over.

“I don’t know about that,” Kahne said Tuesday of dethroning two-time defending champ Jimmie Johnson.

“I’m just happy with our team and our guys are making the cars better,” Kahne said while visiting at Sharon Speedway.

Kahne has three wins in the last five races.

“We’ve been really competitive for over a month now at a lot of different race tracks, so it’s been nice to be back in that form,” Kahne said. “Our goal is to be in the top 12 when the Chase comes around. From there, it’s anybody’s deal.”

Currently, Kahne is the money leader with $3,645,053 in earnings and he’s seventh in points.

Kahne, Tony Stewart and Sharon Speedway owner Dave Blaney took part in a sprint car event Tuesday night.

Kahne was runner-up in Sunday’s LifeLock 400 at Michigan Speedway where the race was won under a yellow flag by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who gambled with low fuel by staying on the track during the final seven laps.

“Without the cautions, who knows what would have happened,” Kahne said. “We had plenty of fuel, so we would have made it.

“I don’t know if Dale would have or wouldn’t have. It would have been close. But because of the way it went, our strategy was to save fuel,” Kahne said. “We were a ninth-place car [starting position] that finished second, so I was really happy that we used the right strategy.”

When asked about recent driver complaints and whining about some tracks and the Car of Tomorrow, Kahne didn’t deny a downside.

“The car has been difficult, but, at the same time, when you do hit on it like we did at Pocono, I could pass anyone and everyone. It’s just a real fine line to hit it right with the car and we’re getting better at it as are all the teams.

“As time goes on, the racing will keep getting better and better,” Kahne said. “The car is really fun and safe to drive. It’s a good race car. It’s an improvement and the longer the teams work with it, hopefully, it’ll put on a better race than what the other car did.”

Stewart, whose appearance at Sharon was at least his third in recent years, preferred not to talk about the NASCAR season.

“I’m not thinking about Sprint Cup cars,” said Stewart, who is fifth in money ($3,044,476) and 11th in points. “We get to do that [NASCAR] every weekend. I’m excited about running dirt again. It’s something Dave and Kasey and I grew up doing, but don’t get a chance to do very often.”

Stewart said that the NASCAR season is long and visits to places like Sharon Speedway are enjoyable.

“It breaks up the monotony of a long season and lets you rest and unwind and do something you don’t have time or an opportunity to do,” Stewart said. “It’s fun for us. We see each other every weekend anyway. The three of us are about the only ones who run sprint cars and I’m the one with the least amount of experience.”

Not racing in front of 100,000 people intrigues Stewart.

“Short-track fans are a different breed,” Stewart said. “They’re passionate about their racing. They’re as die-hard, if not more die-hard than NASCAR fans.

“Nobody showed up with a motor home tonight and they’re probably not camping out all night like most of the NASCAR fans do, but they’re just as passionate about their racing and don’t mind getting dirt in their hair or eyes. They’re here to see good dirt-track racing.”

bassetti@vindy.com