The driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge earned his first pole of the season with a qualifying speed of 170.219 mph, edging out the defending series champion Jimmie Johnson for the top spot. Kahne set the qualifying record on the Long Pond facility in June of 2004 with a lap of 172.533 mph, in the older model cars.

Now in the COT car, Kahne has clenched his first win on the Northeast triangle, beating the Toyota machines of Brian Vickers and Denny Hamlin to the checkers. For Kahne, the win comes on the heels of a great performance in the All-Star race and his first win of 2008 at Charlotte in the 600 mile event Memorial Day weekend.

Riding on momentum, Kahne beamed with delight. "It seemed like the hottest race of the year," he began, "the track was hot." He agreed with other that the 500 mile event made for a long race, but joked that he would not trade back the last 60 laps that helped him get to the front.

Kahne struggled as cars began to follow the leader when his machine could not adapt behind then leader Jimmie Johnson. "I was surprised how hard it was behind Jimmie (Johnson), but the track was green," he continued referencing Saturday nights rain. "I think just as the tires got on the racetrack, the rubber and the longer the race went, the cars just got more separated," he concluded.

Kahne's passing moment came at the right time. "The longer the race went, the hotter the track got, the slicker the racetrack got," he continued, "the better our car got, so that just made it (passing) easier." Due to a pit road miscue, Kahne got use to passing after leaving the pit road with missing lug nuts. After getting in a hole, Crew Chief Kenny Francis was pleased that the outcome worked out.

The Washington state native considers Pocono a home track of sorts. For a brief time, Kahne lived in Tower City and ran the dirt tracks of Pennsylvania that support great open-wheel racing competition. "I would say that Pennsylvania may be the track that I've raced at more than anywhere else growing up that we go to." (exception Washington). Kahne also recognizes this fact, due to the large fan base he has at the track.

Another acknowledgement by Kahne is the most honest of many drivers when the question comes to the race length and the possibility of changing venues. "This is one of them places that's really difficult to win at, 500 miles, hot, and then the corners." Kahne began, "It's so much different when you run and when you have a great car. I didn't think it was a long race today, but every 500 miler here in the past, I thought was way too long. So, I don't know," he concluded.

Runner-up Brian Vickers also shared his thoughts on the day, best summed up as Simon says, follow the leader. "In the big picture we are almost spoiled. I hate to say it," he continued. "Races are won every day, every race by who starts on the pole, who has the best telemetry, who has the best technology, who has the best fuel mileage and this and that and that. It is a single file deal."

Vickers run at Pocono is another indication that the Red Bull Toyota team is moving in the right direction. "I like the fact that it's unique (Pocono)" he said. "I like the fact that you have to have a perfect race car here. I've had some great cars here and have been driving away from the field. I've yet to have what I consider a perfect race car, because there's three very unique turns and you're never going to be great in all three turns."

Vickers added "You're going to have to compromise, and as a driver you're going to have to be able to find a groove that works for your car. I think it puts the drive a lot into it here at Pocono, and I think I've always enjoyed it." For others, the enjoyment of racing is long gone. It has become a sport of complainers and whiners when their equipment is not leading the way. Technology is changing and not everyone is keeping up.

Previous Pocono winner Denny Hamlin finished third. Outside of the heat, Hamlin acknowledged that his car was a third place machine. He also referenced that these cars will be a handful at Indianapolis, another privately owned track.

Rounding out the top-five were Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton, both drivers of Chevrolets. The highest finishing Ford was eighth with Matt Kenseth behind the wheel.

Earnhardt earned his sixth top-five finish of the year, solidifying his place in the points. When asked to describe his day, Earnhardt added "fun wouldn't be in there." Looking ahead, he reminds everyone that "it was pretty hot out there today and it is going to get hotter in the car the next couple of months."

Burton is the biggest victor in the point standings as he closes within 21 points of leader Kyle Busch. 'Wild Man' Busch struggled with his machine all weekend and concluded the weekend without a win in any NASCAR series. He received heavy damage to his race car from an on track incident with Jamie McMurray. After changing the entire nose on the car, Busch made laps and still finished last. Prior to the race, Busch expected a boring race, running with a damaged car he got exactly what he was looking for.