NASCAR: Enumclaw’s Kahne spends birthday with back-of-the-field finish

An early-race tangle with Kurt Busch put the No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion in the garage, but Enumclaw NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kasey Kahne managed to return to the track and finish 39th in the 43-car field Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway.

April 12, 2010 4:39 pm

An early-race tangle with Kurt Busch put the No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion in the garage, but Enumclaw NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kasey Kahne managed to return to the track and finish 39th in the 43-car field Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway.

“I didn’t see it,” Kahne said of the contact with Busch. “I didn’t see it, but from where I was I thought I gave him lots of room and I’m pretty sure he just got loose and came up. Basically he hit me as he was spinning sideways. It is disappointing that’s for sure.”

Racing continues Sunday from Texas Motor Speedway. Television coverage for Plateau viewers begins at 10 a.m. on FOX. Kahne dropped six spots to 26th in driver standings.