Kasey Kahne

Some people may be surprised to see that I have Kasey Kahne not only in the Chase, but in the top 10. But here's the thing about Kahne he had always had the talent. He just hasn't had a lot of stability since the early days of his time at Evenham Motorsports. Now he jumps into the 5 car at Hendrick Motorsports and unlike most drivers with new teams, he gets to bring his crew chief with him. Kahne and Kenny Francis have shown they can be winners and they can make the chase, some times in not so good equipment and under some tough circumstances.

Move over Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards might just be the hottest driver in the Sprint Cup Series. Edwards won the final two races of the 2010 season and was second at the Daytona 500. On Saturday his hot streak continued as he grabbed the pole for Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500. His second straight at the Phoenix International Raceway. Edwards lap of 137.279 mph was just enough to best fellow front row starter Kurt Busch, who laid down a lap of 137.111 mph. It's Edwards 8th career pole.

As NASCAR heads to the short track of Richmond, Virginia, I think many of us are hoping that this Saturday night showdown will save stock car racing from it's self. There has been a lot of talk about the lack of cautions over the past few weeks, and it seems like a little short track racing may be just what the doctor ordered. “I love short-tracks first of all and think we need more," said five-time champ Jimmie Johnson. "Although Richmond has been a challenging track for me over the years it is a place I love to watch a race at.  Short-tracks I think really draw the fans and create the excitement that we need in the sport.

So the dream for a NASCAR championship got a rude awakening last week at Phoenix for Clint Bowyer, thanks to Jeff Gordon. But that doesn't mean that the 15 doesn't have anything to race for at the season finale at Homestead. "There is nothing you can do to fix it now, it's over with," said Bowyer. "You got to go on to Homestead and I gotta try to beat the 5 car (Kasey Kahne). " Which is what he will try to do. The Kansas Kid enters the weekend just two points Kahne foe third place in the standings.

Kasey Kahne seems to have finally righted the ship. After five straight top 10's, Kahne found victory lane at Charlotte in the Coca Cola 600. A far cry from how the season started for the 5 team. And exactly were people thought Kahne would be when he made the move to Hendrick Motorsports. "I never really doubted myself," said Kahne. "I was upset at some of the things that may have happened.  I made a huge mistake at Phoenix, hit the wall there.  But other than that, we were solid, we were fast.  It was just a matter of getting past those five weeks and moving on and putting some solid races together.

Sure Dale Earnhardt, Jr is having a career season, and Jimmie Johnson also sits in the top 10 of the Sprint Cup points standings. But something is missing this season at Hendrick Motorsports.... oh yeah...WINS. You have to go back to 1993 to find a season where HMS failed to win over the first 10 races of the season. Ricky Rudd got the team's first win at Michigan, week 14 on the schedule. Add to the fact to that the pressure that the organization has been sitting on win 199 since October 9th of last season (Jimmie Johnson's win at Kansas, some 17 races ago)

Hendrick Motorsports has now won three straight races, and eight times this season (if you count the Sprint Showdown and the All Star Race). So much for all that talk earlier in the season about how HMS may have lost it's mojo. Jeff Gordon's win on Sunday puts him back into the mix for a wildcard spot in the Chase for the Championship. With Dale Earnhardt, Junior leading the points, Jimmie Johnson tied for the series lead in wins and Kasey Kahne leading the aforementioned wildcard standings, it is possible that all four Hendrick teams will make the chase.

It's hard to find a driver in the garage area that has gone through more change than Kasey Kahne over the past few season. But one thing has been consistent, crew chief Kenny Franicis and the two have been able to make the most out of almost ever situation. Now Kahne enters his season full season in a stable environment at Hendrick Motorsports, and after a rocky start to 2012 the 5 car put together one heck of a run to finish forth in the points. So now it's time to really see what Kahne can do. "My expectations are consistancy, winning races and making the chase," said Kahne.

So the dream for a NASCAR championship got a rude awakening last week at Phoenix for Clint Bowyer, thanks to Jeff Gordon. But that doesn't mean that the 15 doesn't have anything to race for at the season finale at Homestead. "There is nothing you can do to fix it now, it's over with," said Bowyer. "You got to go on to Homestead and I gotta try to beat the 5 car (Kasey Kahne). " Which is what he will try to do. The Kansas Kid enters the weekend just two points Kahne foe third place in the standings.

Everyone is talking about Florida and Ohio, yet when it comes to the Chase for the Championship, Texas may be the true swing state. Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski have been the clear front runners for the chase from the beginning. But like any true underdog, both Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne have been hanging around ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness from the leaders. "Certainly one little slip up on either one of their parts then Kasey or I can be right there for the taking," said Bowyer.

Hendrick Motorsports has now won three straight races, and eight times this season (if you count the Sprint Showdown and the All Star Race). So much for all that talk earlier in the season about how HMS may have lost it's mojo. Jeff Gordon's win on Sunday puts him back into the mix for a wildcard spot in the Chase for the Championship. With Dale Earnhardt, Junior leading the points, Jimmie Johnson tied for the series lead in wins and Kasey Kahne leading the aforementioned wildcard standings, it is possible that all four Hendrick teams will make the chase.

It was Ali-Frazier in the Garden. It was Celtics-Lakers with Bird and Magic. It was NASCAR's dream. Punch and counterpunch - the top two drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup trading shots in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Yes, Kasey Kahne won the race - his first victory of the season and the 12th of his career - but Edwards and Stewart dominated the action as their battle for the 2011 championship remained as close as it was at the start of the day. In a race between the only two drivers mathematically alive for the Cup championship, Edwards finished second and Stewart third, but Stewart led the most laps for the second straight week and leaves Phoenix three points behind Edwards as the drivers prepare to settle the issue in the season finale next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.