Fans Vote Kahne Into NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

Media Contact:
Kimberly Meesters, (704) 634-3637
Kimberly.Meesters@sprint.com
Sarah Wooley, (704) 632-7983
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FANS VOTE KAHNE INTO 
NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE

CONCORD, N.C. ¯ May 17, 2008 ¯ Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge, received the most votes in the 2008 Sprint Fan Vote, earning him a spot in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race May 17.

"That's awesome," said Kahne, who finished fifth in the Sprint Showdown. "I'd love to race my way in and get in (the Sprint All-Star Race) by winning (the Sprint Showdown), but we have great fans and it's pretty cool that they got us in the race. 

"I was gonna head home, drink a couple Budweisers and watch the Sprint All-Star Race, but thanks to the fans I get to race. The fans are a big part of this race weekend, they're a big part of the Sprint All-Star weekend here at Lowe's, and its cool they put us into it. They didn't have to do that and they did."

Robby Gordon, backed by a Jim Beam campaign, finished second in voting. Kahne's Gillett Evernham teammate Elliott Sadler, endorsed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., was third. 

Voting began April 17 and closed at 7 p.m. EDT May 17. Race fans were allowed to vote multiple times, and, as a bonus to Sprint customers, votes placed on Sprint phones counted twice. Votes could also be placed on www.sprint.com/speed, at participating Sprint stores and at the Sprint Experience. 

Past Fan Vote winners include Ken Schrader (2004), Martin Truex Jr. (2005), Kyle Petty (2006) and Kenny Wallace (2007). 

To be eligible for the Sprint Fan Vote, drivers must have been in the top 50 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings in 2007 or have attempted to qualify for a 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race prior to March 10. 

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