Kasey Kahne -- Daytona 2004 Preview
No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Race Facts Daytona 500 Driver: Kasey Kahne Team Director: Tommy Baldwin Owner: Ray Evernham Car Information: New - Tested at Daytona No. 9 Team Stats at Daytona: Best Start: 1st, Feb. 2001 Best Finish: 5th, Feb. 2001 Notes: * The 2004 Daytona 500 is Kahne's first career NASCAR Nextel Cup Series start. * Kahne has competed at DIS three times in the NASCAR Busch Series. His best start is second (July 2003) and his best finish is eighth (February 2003). * The wingless sprint car that Kahne owns is racing at Volusia Speedway Park this week. Kasey Kahne on the Daytona 500: How do you feel about making your first Nextel start in the Daytona 500? "Just being in the Daytona 500 is a great accomplishment. It's the Great American race and I'll be pretty nervous before it starts. I've always watched it growing up and to finally be a part of it is very special." How much have Bill and Jeremy helped you so far? "Bill and Jeremy have really helped me prepare for the Daytona 500 and the season. I feel very comfortable asking them anything and I know that they will give me a true answer. Whenever there is something I have a question about I can go to them and they help me with all their experience." How has your relationship with Tommy Baldwin been so far? "It's gone really well. Tommy Baldwin is by far the best crew chief I've worked with so far. Any way you look at how a crew chief can help a driver, he's better in every single way." What are your goals for 2004? The biggest goal we have is winning the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year title. There are a lot of talented drivers with good teams, so it will be difficult. Tommy Baldwin on the Daytona 500: How has it been so far working at Evernham Motorsports and rookie Kasey Kahne? "Everything has been great so far. Kasey and I have connected really well. We're communicating really well, which is extremely important and we're really starting to bond." What was it like winning the Daytona 500 in 2002 as a crew chief? "It was something that everybody dreams about. The whole experience is something I'll never forget. It made me want to do this job even more." NO. 9 DODGE DEALERS/UAW DODGE The DEW CREW Lineup The No. 9 pit crew took top honors in 2003 in the Union 76 Pit Crew Competition and was voted The Sporting News Pit Crew of the Year. The pit crew propelled the 2003 No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge driver Bill Elliott's return to the year-end top 10. They also claimed eight wins in the Pit Crew Championship and finished fourth in the program's year-end standings. Name Shop/Track Position Hometown Birth date Spouse Children Kasey Kahne Driver Enumclaw, WA 4/10/80 None None Tommy Baldwin Team Director Bellport, NY 10/27/66 Beth Tommy, Jack, Jamen Jim Pohlman Lead Mechanic, Front Tire Changer Chicago, IL 4/17/78 None None Mike Hawkins Lead Engine Tuner 9 & 19 Colorado Spr., CO 1/2/62 None None Steve Lawrence Mechanic Sound Beach, NY 7/16/66 Sally Deanna Marie Ramon Zambrano Mechanic San Miguel, 4/7/81 None None El Salvador Tim Malinovsky Race Engineer, Shock Specialist Kannapolis, NC 8/13/74 None None Brent Wentz Mechanic Lehington, PA 7/27/81 None None Joe Kruschek Rear Tire Changer Pierz, MN 4/19/79 None None Bob Askins Tire Specialist Syracuse, NY 8/28/69 None None Nick Bailey Front Tire Carrier Cornelius, NC 2/8/79 None None Eric Wakeland Rear Tire Carrier Plymouth, IN 11/2/69 None None Todd Colburn Jack Man Celina, OH 8/10/68 Mindy Jordan, Logan Rodney Rhodes Fuel Man Chesapeake, VA 3/7/71 Lori Cody, Katelyn Greg Miller Team Trainer/ 2nd Fuel Man Akron, OH 5/26/72 Melissa Kennedy, David, Reagan Mike Janssen Pit Support 8/23/67 None None Tracy Lumpkin Truck Driver Cuthbert, GA 10/2/55 Sheila RT, Casey, Jason, Diane Sheila Lumpkin Scorer Atlanta, GA 5/26/54 Tracy RT, Casey, Jason, Diane - ### -