An 81 race winless streak snapped at PIR

Kasey Kahne is a winner in the Cup Series again, snapping a career long 81 race winless streak this weekend at PIR. Kasey, who failed to make the Chase this season, has been on fire during these final races, firing off finishes of 12^th, 15^th, 4^th, 2^nd, 4^th, 25^th, 3^rd, and his first win since 2009. Kasey’s finish of 25^th was his worse finish since September, when he was wrecked out of the Richmond race, finishing 38^th.

Title contenders Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart finished right behind him in second and third respectively. Coming into the race at Phoenix, Carl Edwards had a three point lead over Tony Stewart. Coming out, Carl has a three point lead over Tony. Carl and Tony were the only ones mathematically still in it to win the championship, meaning Jimmie Johnson wasn’t going to win his 6^th straight championship.

Kahne, who is making the jump to Hendrick Motorsports, has one race left with Red Bull Racing, Homestead-Miami. After a not so good regular season, Kasey surged in the Chase. Going into the last race of the season, Kasey Kahne has earned the third-most points behind Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart and has an average finish of about 7^th.

Kahne Nation came into full force after the race. Watching Kasey win that race on Sunday had to be one of the best feelings to have as a Kasey Kahne fan.

But Sunday wasn’t just about Kasey Kahne’s win. One of the biggest stories coming out of Phoenix is that Jimmie Johnson will NOT win a 6^th consecutive championship. Everyone has been eliminated from the Chase except for Carl and Tony. Vickernism came back when Brian Vickers wrecked Matt Kenseth. They go back to Martinsville when Vickers’ car became a demo car after a demolition derby. He had a few run-ins with Matt Kenseth, basically taking Matt out of the championship hunt. Vickers’ 2012 future is still unknown since Red Bull Racing is closing its doors after 4 full seasons in the Cup series. Cole Whitt made his Cup debut with RBR, finishing 25^th.

Who has the most momentum going into the final race in the Chase? Carl Edwards? Tony Stewart? Kasey Kahne? How will Homestead fair for the drivers? How will this race impact the championship? How will the other racers race the final two Chase drivers? Will Tony Stewart wreck Carl Edwards if he had the chance? Will Carl do the same? You’re just going to have to watch to find out.