New surface gives Kahne, Craven trouble

Both drivers spin during Bud Pole Qualifying at Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. -- The new asphalt at Richmond International Raceway claimed two victims during Friday's Nextel Cup qualifying for the Chevy American Revolution 400.

Ricky Craven spun and backed into the wall coming to the checkered flag, while rookie Kasey Kahne did the same on his first qualifying lap. Both drivers are going to backup cars and will start at the rear of the field for Saturday night's 400-lap race.

	Ricky Craven found the wall during his second qualifying lap. Credit: Autostock

That isn't much of a handicap for Kahne, who needed a provisional to make the race after his first lap -- which ended sideways across the finish line -- was only 116.706 mph.

Craven's first lap of 128.357 was good enough for 21st, but he'll lose that for Saturday's race.

"I thought we had a shot," Craven said. "We had a window getting into Turn 3 and probably should have aborted. It just bit me."

RIR officials repaved the track last year, and the new asphalt was much faster. Craven broke the track record of 127.389 mph set by Ward Burton in 2002, as did Matt Kenseth in 29th.

"Yeah, it's fast," Craven said. "It doesn't have the grip right now that it had a few hours ago. We found that out the hard way. It's going to be exciting for the fans. It's going to be bottom-groove racing for a couple hundred laps, but before the night's over you'll probably see some side-by-side racing, which is typical of Richmond.

"The team is battling back here. We're gaining a little momentum. I just wanted to have a good run for them."

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Kahne was gunning for the fourth Bud Pole of his rookie season, two away from Ryan Newman's rookie record, when he lost control of his No. 9 Dodge off Turn 4.

"I was a little loose in practice and we were looser right there," Kahne said. "The track is hotter, obviously, and I just got loose and didn't save it. It hit hard enough to hurt the car. I didn't hit that hard. It just smacked the car.

"It's too bad. That's the same as it's been. It just wasn't quite that loose. Earlier on, it was a loose where you just kind of drive through it, and that's what I tried doing there. I didn't make it through it."

Live and learn, Kahne said.

"I should have maybe left a little bit out there instead of trying for the pole," Kahne said. "You know you've got to go fast, and I love going for those Bud Poles. Sometimes it'll bite you when you do that.

"When you can't do it, you've got to tell yourself you can't and let it go and start 15th or something, not scratch on the field. It's tough, but I probably learned something today. That's why I'm a Raybestos Rookie."