Track Smack: Big weekend ahead for Kahne, Truex

1. Kasey Kahne became the sixth driver ever to sweep the All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600. What does that mean for him for the rest of the season?

Dave Rodman: Too early to tell if it's a real danger sign for the rest of the teams, but given the proliferation of intermediate tracks on the schedule and the level Kahne and Kenny Francis have elevated their game, the Kahne/Francis of 2006 could be back in play. And if that's the case, they will contend for the 2008 Sprint Cup championship.

Mark Aumann: I really don't know. Kasey ran well at Fontana and Las Vegas, qualified well at Atlanta and Texas -- but the team slumped badly for a five-race stretch. They made the All-Star race on a fan vote, but ran well once they got in. And they won Sunday night because Tony Stewart lost a tire with two laps remaining. But certainly, it's a great boost to the team's morale. I'm certain they felt snake-bit last season.

David Caraviello: You would think that the sheer number of 1.5-mile intermediate tracks on the schedule would play to their strength. But Kasey was a little hit-and-miss at those places before Charlotte, and the 600 is kind of a different animal in the way you have to adjust the car.

Dave Rodman: But they were in position. And Kasey proclaimed he was more in the mix, more proactive in his interactions. These are good things, no matter where they're racing.

David Caraviello: They did run consistently well over the course of the two weeks. The last guy to sweep both Charlotte events was Jimmie Johnson in 2003, and things turned out all right for him.

Dave Rodman: And don't forget, his veteran teammate, Elliott Sadler, has also elevated his performance at the same time. His finish at Lowe's wasn't indicative of how good they were. So in concert, they could lift the whole ship. Patrick Carpentier has had a lot of bumps, but his speed is unquestioned and he has done a great job of getting into these races, despite no experience with the tracks and the cars. If he gets it figured out, he'll be a valuable third member of that team.

Kasey Kahne

Past three years

	2006	2007	2008
Starts	36	36	12
Wins	6	0	1
Top-5s	12	1	1
Top-10s	19	8	6
25th or higher	11	15	3
Lead-Lap Fin.	26	18	8
Race Leads	15	6	6
Laps Led	744	374	71
Point Standing	8	19	12

• Confident Kahne | Community

Mark Aumann: That battle for the final Chase spot might be the storyline of the summer. Between Kahne, David Ragan, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, Juan Montoya, Bobby Labonte, Travis Kvapil, Brian Vickers and Kurt Busch, that could switch around every week until Richmond.

Dave Rodman: Mark, you don't underestimate it! Between that and the top 35, which has been much more changeable this season, it will be a hot summer in more ways than one.

David Caraviello: And remember, that 600 finish was Kasey's first result better than 10th since Bristol way back in mid-March. I'm not sure one exhibition and one points victory necessarily means they've turned things around.

Dave Rodman: If they're as consistent and as adjustable at Dover, I'd say they're back in play.

David Caraviello: Consistently high finishes at two such diverse racetracks and under such diverse conditions would be a very good sign. Dover is hot as a frying pan this time of year.

Mark Aumann: And aloha to David. How was Hawaii?

David Caraviello: Hawaii was great Mark, thanks for asking. From Maui to Dover within a span of four days. Talk about the yin and the yang of the American travel experience!

Mark Aumann: We're jealous. With gas prices on the cusp of $4 here in north Georgia, Memorial Day weekend travel meant a trip to the Commerce factory outlet and back. And I just looked it up. Kasey Kahne at Dover: Eight starts, one top-10.

Dave Rodman: So, Stat Boy, 2008 version -- ha ha ha -- all the more reason to believe that if he's consistent and flexible, could mean something ... even if he stinks at Dover, though it's a somewhat unique animal. It'll be interesting to see how they convert the Pocono test into success the following week. Or, if they don't.

David Caraviello: It's important to remember here how far behind this group was last year. That 9 team had a disastrous 2007, as did the entire Gillett Evernham operation. The fact that they're 12th in points with a race win right now is quite an impressive turnaround.

Mark Aumann: We're about to start that interesting stretch where we go to all these unique facilities: Dover, Pocono, Sonoma ... this is where we may see someone make up ground.

Dave Rodman: Totally. By the time the series gets to Daytona, I'd say we'll know for sure where they're going to fall. Then again, as Mark said, those last few spots could be shuffling right up until Richmond. (Continued)