CONCORD, N.C. – In 2014, a dramatic, late-season win at Atlanta Motor Speedway launched Kasey Kahne into the NASCAR Cup Series postseason.
This year, it was another thrilling win – this time in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – that propelled Kahne and the No. 5 team into the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
“Fortunately, we won the Brickyard,” Kahne said. “It was an unbelievable win.”
After the regular-season finale Saturday night at Richmond Raceway, the No. 5 team’s focus is full-steam ahead on the playoffs, and Kahne enters the postseason with five bonus points due to his win at Indianapolis.
Now, he’s looking to make some noise in the 10-race sprint to the championship.
“I’m glad I’m in it this year and have an opportunity to see how far we can go,” Kahne said. “Just get the best results every week and make no mistakes and see where we end up.”
In the regular season, Kahne earned one win, three top-five finishes, four top-10s and 31 laps led. On the verge of the playoffs, which begin next week at Chicagoland Speedway, the driver said he and the team will put everything they have into the final stretch of the season.
“We just kind of do what we do, the best we possibly can,” he said. “Give a lot of effort and time into it, and by doing that, I think we’ll get our best result and I’ll be happy with it.”