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.

4 tire stop cost Stewart a win at LVMS

Topic of the week. Stewart takes 4 tires on last pit stop, losing the race. It’s a big deal. He said they just gave one away. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqC4c9rICRY (Tony Stewart and Juan Montoya Press conference) Did the 14 crew shoot themselves in the foot two weeks in a row? Coming out of Stewart’s mouth, they did. He knew they couldn’t go 2 and a half fuel runs on the same left side tires. What did the fans think about the 14’s decision to take four tires on the last pit stop? Here’s what some of the fans said:

@Matt_Kacar: had no choice cause they couldn’t go two and a half fuel runs on the same lefts

@TLaut23: Dumb, I was yelling that the TV when he took 4 tires

@laura_sspeedfan: I thought it wasn’t the best move. Maybe 2 tires and fuel would of probably gained him the victory

@Nascartalk10: I thought it would help him if they got a caution but they never did so it kinda makes me mad he didn’t win

@nascarchick_3: I thought it was stupid, they took 2 all day, which worked, then decided at the last minute to take 4...I would’ve stuck with what worked

@JakesdogWally20: I think it cost him the race!! 2 probably would’ve been fine, and he probably would’ve kept his track position

@Dennyschick11: well I think he should’ve stuck with 2 because it worked for him the first time. And it wouldn’t have cost him so much time

@atugirl: I thought he was a sitting duck when he took 2. But the position was key. The last time taking 2 might have kept them in the lead, but the people with fresher tires may have driven him down

@kkjlluver: dumb, dumb, why didn’t he stick with 2 tires? Worked all day

@justinnett: I think it could have been interesting if they had taken 2 again. Idk how long they could make it on left side though

@cruetten: by changing four tires when everyone got 2, he gave up all the time he gained when he went with 2 tires on the previous stop. Once he got his track position from the two tire stop, he needed to protect that lead by doing what everyone else was doing no matter what. A very poor decision by the rarely-wrong Grubb

Dustin Rowdy Roberts (Facebook): very bad decision since it put them in a box when the competition would do the opposite

Bradley Huddleston (Facebook): he’s stupid cuz 2 worked before

@Noelle_McKee: well, I thought it was a good call but the mistake that his pit crew made, well, I think he could’ve won it

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. No one had the right or wrong answer.

Here’s what I think. Tony Stewart and 14 crew made the RIGHT decision by taking four tires. Everyone should know that you can NOT go two and a half fuel runs on the same set of tires. You could have a blow-out and ruin your racecar and a chance to win the race. What really HURT the 14 team was the miscue on pit road with the equipment leaving the box. What would have HELPED the 14 team was a caution at the end to bring him right back up to Edwards. I know Tony could have easily won the race, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

Tony, I know second sucks after the day you had, but try to be thankful that you didn’t have a wrecked racecar. With your second place finish, you’re leading the points after three races.

Race results

Points standings