Kasey Kahne won the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway, scoring his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 47th career start.
The last driver to win from the Bud Pole was Joe Nemechek at Kansas, October 10, 2004.
Bill Elliott was the last driver to win at Richmond from the Bud Pole: March 1992, 26 Richmond races ago.
Ryan Newman was the last driver to score his career-first victory from the Bud Pole. Newman won his career-first race at New Hampshire in September 2002.
Several drivers have won their first race from the Bud Pole including Hershal McGriff, Lou Figaro, Frank Mundy, Donald Thomas, Norm Nelson and many others.
Kahne joined Carl Edwards as the second first-time winner this season.
Kahne scored six runner-up finishes before posting his career-first victory. He joined Marvin Panch, Mark Martin and Glen Wood for sixth-place on the list of drivers with runner-up finishes before their first victory. James Hylton holds the record, scoring 12 second-place finishes before scoring his career-first victory at Richmond in March 1970.
This marked the first Dodge Charger victory since Neil Bonnett won at Ontario in November 1977.
Kahne became the seventh different winner in 2005.
Kahne climbed from 19th to 15th in the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP point standings, 301 behind point leader Jimmie Johnson.
Kahne led 242 laps, the most in his career, in leading the most laps for the first time this season. He has led the most laps in two previous races: Texas 2004 and second Charlotte – 2004.
This is Kahnes first top-10 finish in three races at Richmond.
Kahne has scored four top-10 finishes in 11 races this season.
This was the sixth career victory for team owner Ray Evernham.
Notebook Items
Five of the top-10 finishers at Richmond scored their best Richmond finish: Kasey Kahne (first) Kyle Busch (fourth), Greg Biffle (sixth), Elliott Sadler (seventh) and Michael Waltrip (ninth).
Tony Stewart (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 13 races at Richmond. Stewart has scored six top-10 finishes in 11 races this season. He climbed from seventh to sixth in the point standings.
Ryan Newman (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in seven races at Richmond. He scored his fifth top-10 finish in 2005. He climbed from 10th to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings.
Kyle Busch (fourth) posted his third top-10 finish of 2005 in his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Richmond race.
Kevin Harvick (fifth) scored his third top-10 finish in nine races at Richmond. Harvick has scored four top-10 finishes in 2005. He climbed from 11th to eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings.
Jimmie Johnson (40th) remained first in the point standings with a 41-point lead over second-place Greg Biffle. Johnson lost 86 points in posting his second DNF of the season. He has scored eight top-10 finishes in 11 races this season, more than any other driver. Johnson scored his worst finish and first DNF in seven races at Richmond International Raceway.
The last time Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson posted DNFs in the same race was at Dover in June 2004.
Kyle Busch (fourth) was the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year contender for the seventh time in 11 races in 2005.
Mark Martin (15th) has been running at the finish in 33 consecutive races, the longest current streak.
Nine of the top-10 positions in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings changed at Richmond International Raceway.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(5-14-2005)
