YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RECAP
2006 Finished eighth in series points.
Finished with six wins, 12 top fives and 19 top 10s.
Won a series-high
six races and a career-high six poles.
Earned first Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup berth.
Finished in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 for the first time in his career.
2005 Finished 23rd in series points.
Earned first career win on May 14 at Richmond.
Finished with two poles,
one win, five top fives, eight top 10s and nine DNFs.
Earned back-to-back poles at Darlington and Richmond in
May.
Honored by his hometown of Enumclaw, Wash., with Kasey Kahne Day on Sept. 5.
2004 Finished 13th in series points in rookie campaign.
Captured four series poles third highest total of the season.
Earned first pole in only his third career start (Las Vegas). He finished second for the second consecutive week.
Recorded three top-five finishes in his first four career starts.
Secured third runner-up finish in six weeks at
Texas.
Had string of four top-10 finishes, including three top fives, in five races in July and August.
Missed qualifying
for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by 28 points.
Ended the season on a strong note, compiling
three top fives in the final four races.
PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY
After spending his entire racing career in open-wheel series, Kahne spent 2002 and 2003 in the NASCAR Busch
Series. He drove for Robert Yates Racing during his 2002 rookie season, running 20 of 34 events and finishing 33rd
in the standings. He moved to Akins Motorsports in 2003 and finished seventh in the standings. His season was highlighted
by his first career win in the season finale at Homestead and 14 top-10 finishes. He also earned his first
career NASCAR Busch Series pole, at Michigan in August. Prior to stock cars, Kahne was considered a top open-wheel
talent. His accomplishments include the 2000 USAC Midget title and the 2000 USAC Silver Bullet Series Rookie of the
Year. In 2001, he ran limited schedules the Toyota Atlantic Series and Formula Ford 2000 Series before moving to the
NASCAR Busch Series in 2002.
NOTEWORTHY
Hired by long-time motorsports car owner, Steve Lewis, who has fielded cars for Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart to compete
in the USAC Sprint, Midget and Silver Crown Series during the 2000 season.
Won the Night before the 500
Classic at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2000 (teammate, Ryan Newman, finished second) and 2001, becoming the
first driver to post back-to-back victories in the annual event since Jeff Gordon did so in 1989 and 1990.
