Kahne uses Pep Boys 500 to stay in chase

Published 12:28 am Monday, September 7, 2009

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Kasey Kahne has given himself a huge boost in the Chase for the Championship by winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kahne came into Sunday night’s Pep Boys Auto 500 clinging to the 11th spot in the Sprint Cup standings. The 12-driver playoff will be set at Richmond next weekend, and Kahne jumped all the way to sixth with his 11th career victory and second of the year.

Kevin Harvick, who won the Nationwide race Saturday night, was in position for a weekend double until teammate Clint Bowyer spun with 15 laps to go, bringing out the final caution of the night. Kahne got Harvick on the restart and pulled away to an easy 1.766-second win.

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