Kasey Kahne on Sonoma difficulties
KASEY KAHNE – No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion – LAST YEAR YOU SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH YOUR WIN AT SONOMA, WHAT HAS THAT DONE FOR YOU HEADING INTO THIS WEEKEND? “I definitely feel confident going out there. We’ve qualified well there the last few races and won there. I have gained great confidence at that track ever since my win. I think that took a little bit of the intimidation out of that place. It is an extremely tough place to race because it is such a different concept to what we normally do, but I would say I definitely have confidence based on how we have been there the last few times out. My team behind me did a great job there the year we beat Tony off the pits and held him off for the victory. It is important to have a solid team behind you to be successful there at Sonoma. It will be a little different with the new engine this time around. Hopefully we can put another top-10 together. There is a lot that goes on there that you don’t have control over. There is a lot that goes on that you do have control of as well. Hopefully, we can get some luck and put together another good race."
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE HARDEST PART ABOUT A ROAD COURSE, OR SONOMA IN PARTICULAR? “The hardest part at Sonoma is tough to pinpoint. I think that every part of it is hard. There is a lot going on there and we don’t race that type of stuff too often. You have to really be on your game and you need the whole team to be right there behind you and working with you the whole time. There is a lot that goes on there at that race track. For an oval guy like myself. I think the whole course is where I need to really keep my eyes open. One little mistake there and you will lose a lot."