Kasey Kahne and the No. 9 Team: Could Synergy Be the Key To Making the Chase?

(Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images)

Granted just looking at start and finish data doesn’t tell the whole story of a race, yet for this teams there seems to be a correlation between start position and race success. 

However, there is another interesting number to address as wells and that is laps lead. Until Darlington this was basically a non-stat for the No. 9. Nevertheless could Kahne’s performance on the “Lady in Black” mark the beginning of true synergy for the No.9 team? 

The egg-shaped Darlington with her mismatched ends makes this track a particular challenge for Crew Chefs.  The No. 9 team started Darlington in 7th; they stayed out in front indicating Francis and crew were on point.  By Lap 71 Kahne was in the lead, clearly driver was in the game too.  As with pass races this year it was apparent that they had addressed the horsepower/lap traffic issue of last season, yet it hasn’t been enough, no synergy.

The definition of synergy is 1+1=3. I would argue until Lap 84 at Darlington, No.9 team math was 1+1=2. What changed?  

The No. 9 crew and Kahne became the No. 9 team.  The No. 9 crew could bring a good car to the track, and Kahne could drive that car, as seen by good qualify times and reasonable finishes. Yet, they weren’t leading or wining.  The change could be seen when in the lead the No. 9 crew made a fast four tire stop and Kahne won the race off pit row and the No. 9 team was on fire.

The clear indication that the No. 9 team had become more then just the sum of their parts came on Lap 205.  Kahne lost a tire after contact with David Stremme. The nose was knocked in forcing a green flag pit stop, ultimately putting the No. 9 team two laps down. 

If this was 2008 the lack of horsepower plus team frustration would have equal disaster 1+1=2. This wasn’t the case at Darlington. Multiple cautions gave the No. 9 crew time to address the handing problems. Kahne’s decisive driving choices put them back to only one Lap down. The desire to finish strong was clear in this team 1+1=3, leading to a 23rd place finish on a “bad day.”

The big question is will it hold. Darlington hinted at the possibility that the rest of the season could look more like 2006 then 2008. Kahne will defend his All Start title this weekend, and although it isn’t for point this maybe the perfect place to make their new found synergy stick.  If it does the Chase could still be in reach for this team.

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