Kasey Kahne 2015 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Kasey Kahne 2014 Stats: Points Finish 15th, 0 Poles, 1 Win, 3 Top Fives, 11 Top Tens, Average Running Position 15.0, Average Finish 17.6, Laps Led 218, Driver Rating 87.4
Strengths – Kasey Kahne is a very strong intermediate track driver. His best chance to reach victory lane will come at those venues. He’s also good at big flat tracks, Bristol and Sonoma.
Weaknesses – Consistency has proven to be a career long problem for Kasey Kahne and I don’t expect that issue to go away. Restrictor plate tracks more often than not have proven to be unfriendly to him.
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Moderate > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – High
Kasey Kahne is a skilled intermediate track driver. Ten of his seventeen career victories have come on this track type. In 2014 he was very good at high-speed intermediate tracks (intermediate tracks excluding Darlington and Dover). At these venues minus Texas #2 (wrecked) and Kansas #2 (tire issue) he had an 11.8 average result and finished in the top fifteen in 10 of the 12 races. Last season his lone win of the year came at Atlanta and that propelled him into the Chase. In that event he didn’t have the best car but he was in position at the end to take advantage of the situation. Typically he’s at his best at intermediate tracks where the high-line comes into play. Out of all the 23 venues on the schedule Charlotte stands out as his best.
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Flat Track Fantasy Value – High
Kasey Kahne runs well at flat tracks in general but his fantasy value is higher at the big flat tracks. At Indy last season he was very competitive and was a serious contender to win. In that event he finished 6th and led 70 laps. In 2013 at Indy he finished 3rd. In his career at Indy minus the two races he’s crashed he has an 8.0 average finish. At Pocono Kahne is a two-time champion and as long as he avoids problems he’ll finish well. Last August he had an incident free race and finished 10th. In June at Pocono he finished 42nd after being involved in an accident. In August 2013 he raced his way to victory lane.
At New Hampshire Kahne has been one of the more competitive drivers recently. In 2012 he went to victory lane in the summer and finished 5th in the fall. In 2013 he finished 11th in July and in September 2013 he led 31 laps and had top ten potential but finished 37th after pounding the inside wall. Last season he finished 11th in July and had top ten potential in August but finished 23rd after having problems about 2/3rds through the event. At Phoenix Kahne has run well since track was reconfigured. He was the first winner on the new layout and since the track changes minus spring 2012 when he slapped the wall he has a 9.7 average finish and an 11.8 average running position.
Read his teammates Fantasy NASCAR Previews: Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson
Short Track Fantasy Value – Moderate
Kasey Kahne’s fantasy value is listed as moderate but I’ll note it’s a very high moderate. His best short track by far is Bristol. In recent races at that venue he belongs in the conversation for being the best driver. Last August he ran very well leading 40 laps but he had problems in the race that relegated him to a 35th place finish. In the four Bristol races prior to that event he had a series best 5.0 average finish. In spring 2013 at Thunder Valley he raced his way to victory lane.
Equipment is half the battle at Martinsville and nobody has Hendrick Motorsports beat in that department. Since being part of the organization he’s shown potential but he’s also had quite a few tough races. In Hendrick equipment he has two top five finishes but four results of 22nd or worse.
At Richmond Kahne got his first career victory in 2005. Since then he’s had a few good results but many of his performances have left a lot to be desired. Last fall at RIR he wasn’t competitive and finished 17th. In the two races prior to that event he had back to back 14th place finishes.
Check out our Kasey Kahne Fantasy NASCAR Portal page
Restrictor Plate Track Fantasy Value – Moderate
Kasey Kahne is capable of coming home with a good result at restrictor plate tracks but he’s proven to be a volatile fantasy prospect.
Daytona has been the more unfriendly of the two tracks. In the last four races at that historic venue he has a best finish of 27th and a 31.5 average finish. If you must pick him here the summer race has traditionally been his better of the two. In the last six Daytona 500’s he has a best result of 25th and a 30th place average finish.
At Talladega last season he had results of 8th and 12th. Let’s not overlook his 2013 results of 36th and 42nd though. At Talladega his average finish is 21.1 and in 55% percent of his starts he’s finished outside the top twenty.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – High
Kasey Kahne is a quality road course racer who’s flying somewhat below the radar. At Sonoma he’s a former winner and since 2009 he has four top tens, the 5th best driver rating and an 8.5 average finish. In the two most recent Sonoma races he has back to back 6th place finishes. In 2009 he raced his way to victory lane there.
At Watkins Glen he’s been performing better in recent years. Last season at that serpentine track he finished 12th. In 2013 he had top ten potential but got swept up in a late wreck and finished 34th. In 2012 he finished 13th.
