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Kahne's 2014 struggles continue at Pocono

As Katie Copple explains below, the 2014 season has not been kind to Kasey Kahne. All of his teammates have already visited victory lane (two of them multiple times), while Kahne sits deep in the standings and winless.

Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Action Sports Photography

Off to what could be called the worst start of his Sprint Cup career, Kasey Kahne ran into trouble yet again Sunday in Pocono. Colliding with Kyle Busch with just 18 laps to go, Kahne went on to finish 42nd, his worst this season, leaving him noticeably frustrated and upset.

After the wreck, Kahne told reporters at the track, "That's just Kyle being Kyle. He's probably pissed off because his car was slow."


In 14 races this season, Kahne has just one top-five; a third place finish at Kansas just a few weeks ago. With only a handful of laps led, a majority of which came at Darlington where he would later head to the garage following a crash. Kahne and the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet have not had the best of luck, and time is running out.

Currently sitting 22nd in points with a zero in the win column, Kahne and his Crew Chief Kenny Francis have to be scratching their heads wondering what they can do to bring some luck back to the No. 5 team.

With only eight lead lap finishes this season and an average finish of 19.2, is there something not clicking together for the No. 5 team? Pocono was looking to be a turnaround point for him seeing that his most recent win came at this track in 2013. With just 18 laps to go, it was looking like a promising day, but in the end the team was loading up a wrecked race car instead of celebrating a good finish once again.

Brad Keselowski hits Kasey Kahne on pit road
Brad Keselowski hits Kasey Kahne on pit road

Photo by: Getty Images

Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. picked up his second victory of the season at Pocono. The rest of the Hendrick Motorsports camp have victories as well with Johnson bringing home two trophies and Gordon's win at Kansas. Kahne and his team have had fast cars, but it seems as if a string of bad luck is keeping them out of victory lane and currently, on the verge of missing the Chase.

With just 12 races until the start of the Chase, the tension and pressure is building for the No. 5 camp to get that win. Kahne does have a win at Michigan, but that was back in 2006, early in his career and with a different team. Having two victories last season and really strong cars in 2014, Kahne and his team have the talent and equipment to get that checkered flag; they just need a bit of luck on their side.

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