Truck Series Win Gives Kahne Momentum for Bristol

NASCAR Sprint Cup had the weekend off, and although some drivers took the chance to slide in an early vacation, one driver chose to race hard. While Kyle Busch slipped away to Cancun, Kasey Kahne slid behind the wheel of Busch's #18 Toyota Tundra at Darlington Raceway for the Camping World Truck Series Too Tough To Tame 200.

Kahne is now in his first full season with Red Bull Racing, but his first three races in 2011 have not been all that different from his last three races in 2010. Aside from a sixth place finish at Phoenix, his other two starts have been less than stellar. This past week he climbed up in the point standings by two and is skirting the outside of the top ten as well as finally joining NASCAR's power rankings sliding in at 12th place. Kahne is craving some kind of momentum that will propel him forward and help him find victory lane in the Sprint Cup series once again after coming up with donuts for the past two seasons.

Kahne jumped in one of the strongest machines in the truck series and proved it might not be Kyle Busch's driving ability that allows him to win so much. It may just be the team Busch put together. Kahne led 95 of 147 laps March 12th in Darlington, South Carolina to win his third truck race in four starts. Kahne knows this is the kick in the tail he needed to pump up his game and continue his climb to the top ten in Sprint Cup and be a contender for NASCAR's Chase for the Championship.

"I enjoy winning and I don't win near enough," Kahne said following the race. "So to come here and win this weekend feels great. There's no way it can't benefit ... the next month or so, give me some momentum.'

Red Bull Racing is perfectly capable of putting both of their cars in the top ten week after week. If Kahne lacked any confidence before, this win gave it back to him and that's the trade off for not spending the week on some Caribbean beach. Kahne wants to win and prove himself again especially in advance of joining Hendrick Motor Sports in 2012.

Kahne and the #4 team are going to need all the help they can get this coming weekend at the Jeff Byrd 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Although he has had three top fives and fives top tens in 14 starts at the Bristol bullring, his average finish is only 19.9 and this race last season he finished 34th. If he can keep his front end clean, he can put some of that sprint car experience to use in Sprint Cup and get his first win at Bristol.