NASCAR Cup

Texas II: Kahne - Friday media visit

KASEY KAHNE (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge Charger) WHY WAS THE ATLANTA RACE SO DIFFICULT FOR THE 9 CAR? "Neither race at Atlanta this year really worked out for us; we just seemed off a little bit. We had a new car last week which was a lot ...

Published: Oct 31, 2008, 10:41 PM

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KASEY KAHNE (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge Charger)

WHY WAS THE ATLANTA RACE SO DIFFICULT FOR THE 9 CAR? "Neither race at Atlanta this year really worked out for us; we just seemed off a little bit. We had a new car last week which was a lot better. Unfortunately, we struggled finding rear grip all day. We tried some things and just couldn't find rear grip. It (rear grip) was probably the worse it's been all year. We just really struggled with it all day."

HOW FRUSTRATING WAS THE CAR TO DRIVE? "It was frustrating, but it's late in the year and nothing really matters with the points -- we can't make the Chase and can't win the championship. If you can't win the race or get in the top-10, you just kind of go with it and try to bring the car back in one piece."

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACETERIZE THIS SEASON? "Very up and down. We were probably one of the best cars out here for four weeks and the rest of the year we've been all over the board. It's crazy. I don't know why it happens like that in racing, but we certainly will look back at this year and scratch our heads to why we have been so up and down."

DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR CONFIDENCE? "When you're not running great, I think that it will affect your confidence a little bit."

TALK ABOUT THIS WEEKEND AT TEXAS: "We brought the same car that we finished second at Charlotte with last month. With some adjustments and changes to the back of the car, I think that we'll unload a good racecar. I think it's a good car. I have confidence in the entire Budweiser team and the equipment is getting better and better. This weekend could be a good weekend. We'll have to see how we qualify and where we start in the field."

LOOSE RACECARS WERE THE TALK OF THE RACE LAST WEEKEND. HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT? "Carl (Edwards) had a great racecar last week. I don't see anything wrong with Atlanta and I like racing there a lot. It's not like you don't know heading into Atlanta that the track is going to be slick. We've run up front there a bunch the past few years; we just couldn't find the right set up the past two times we raced there. When you have a good car, it makes it an easier to get around that place. When you don't, you're going to struggle in trying to chase a set up that works. With these new cars, that's easier said than done."

JEFF (GORDON) IS WINLESS SO FAR THIS YEAR. IS THAT AN INDICATION OF HOW DIFFICULT THESE NEW CARS HAVE BEEN TO DRIVE AND TUNE? "I don't think so. Jeff won a lot last year in that car. It has nothing to do with the new car. It has to do with how things work out....team stuff. They're (Hendrick Motorsports) obviously pretty good. Jimmie Johnson is going to win the championship for the third-straight year.

It just hasn't gone as well for Jeff this year. Last year showed that he (Gordon) was one of the best driver's out here. I don't think that he's forgotten how to wheel a racecar around a race track. He's still a great driver."

TALK ABOUT RACING AT TEXAS. "I always like coming here to race. I won here in 2006 and think I can get a racecar around here pretty good. We're bringing back the car that we finished second with at the last Charlotte race. We made some changes to the rear end which we think will apply well here. Hopefully we can qualify well and start up near the front. Clean air is always important at Texas, especially with these cars. We were a top-10 car here in the spring before we had a problem with the front splitter. I think we should be pretty competitive on Sunday."

WHAT MAKES TEXAS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER 1.5-MILE TRACKS? "Getting into Turn One can be tricky. It is real flat and then as you are coming into the corner, you get into the banking. It's almost like you fall into the corner at 190 miles per hour. Turn Three is similar but it is not as drastic. It is a difficult place to get your car to handle the way you want. It is a great track, but you really need your car to handle well on entry to be competitive."

-credit: dodge motorsports

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