HIGHLIGHTS FROM KASEY KAHNE MEDIA TOUR

My column for the Feb. 6 print section of the Review-Journal is about spending six hours Tuesday with NASCAR Cup driver Kasey Kahne, his PR rep and Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s PR guru Jeff Motley. We went to three TV stations, dinner and spent a couple hours at the UNLV basketball game.

Here are some observations from my time with Kasey:

I was impressed with how knowledgeable Las Vegas sportscasters Kevin West (Channel 3), Kevin Bolinger (5), Michael Berk (8) and Doug Kezirian (13) were about Kasey and racing. ...

Kasey — like our president — loves his Blackberry, whether for talking or texting. He was on it whenever there was a lull, but he had a good reason. His World of Outlaws drivers Joey Saldana and Keith Dollansky were competing in Volusia, Fla. He also owns USAC Sprint and Midget open-wheel teams for driver Brad Sweet.

His teams will compete at the LVMS Dirt Track on Feb. 25 and 26, a few days before the Sprint Cup Shelby 427 at LVMS. Kahne will race on Feb. 26 in one of his Midget cars. ...

Sadly, he said there isn’t a plan for him to be in any TV commercials for sponsor Allstate this year.

“I guess they’re cutting back a little, too,” he said. “Every time I have an autograph signing I can’t believe how many people ask about those commercials.” ...

Kasey wore black sneakers with black laces, jeans and white T-shirt with an artsy drawing on it. Not sure what it was and neither was he. But it was cool. It helped him walk through the Hard Rock without being noticed, and he said that was nice and certainly something that never happens at a racetrack. ...

At 28, Kasey looked more like a UNLV sophomore than a professional athlete. That’s how Rebels basketball coach Lon Kruger felt when they spent a few minutes together in his office before UNLV's game against San Diego State.

“You look too young to be going 180 (mph),” Kruger said. ...

A few folks recognized Kasey at the Thomas & Mack, including local resident Ranson Davis.

Davis grew up near Kasey’s hometown of Enumclaw, Wash., and used to watch him race at Skagit Valley Speedway. About 10 or 12 years ago, he left one night with a crunched race car wing from Kasey’s car that he has hanging in his garage.

“I put $20 on Kasey to win the Daytona 500,” Davis said after Kasey stopped to have his picture taken with him. ...

Kasey has been a Rebels fan since the early 1990s when UNLV was a hot property. Throughout the game he’d clap or raise a fist after a good play by the Rebels. Sadly on that night, there weren’t many before losing in overtime to the Aztecs. ...

He showed some “game” in a promotional shooting contest, but couldn’t beat Rebels football star Ryan Wolfe.

I kidded him about losing to a guy wearing a No. 88 jersey, which are Wolfe’s number and the number for Dale Earnhardt Jr. ...

Kasey lives with his younger brother, Kale, who goes on the road with the Outlaws teams.

“I like it when he’s home because he’s a good cook,” he said.

Kasey has a nice home near Charlotte, N.C., on a cove of Lake Norman where many Cup drivers live.

“I wish I had more land or lived above a restaurant.” ...

It was a very fast six hours.

If you don’t have a favorite driver you should consider picking up Kasey. ...

And ladies ... he’s still single and waiting the meet the right girl.

LET THE SEASON BEGIN ... SORT OF

Major-league racing gets under way from sea to shining sea this weekend.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series begins with its revised Budweiser Shootout in Daytona Beach, Fla., with a revised format geared more to appeasing the sponsor for the nonpoints paying race that continuing tradition.

The NHRA professional drag racing tour was to begin Thursday in Pomona, Calif., but rain washed it out. It delayed the introduction of new sponsor Full Throttle with most interest being about how many teams will show up.

NASCAR BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT FIELD

CHEVROLET: Jimmie Johnson, No. 48; Kevin Harvick, No. 29; Casey Mears, No. 07; Jeff Burton, No. 31; Jeff Gordon, No. 24; Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88; Tony Stewart, No. 14, wild card.

Notes: Mears replaced Clint Bowyer in the No. 07; Tony Stewart is now with Stewart-Haas Racing in what was the No. 70 and is the wild card as a former series champion.

TOYOTA: Denny Hamlin, No. 11; Joey Logano, No. 20; Kyle Busch, 18; Brian Vickers, No. 83; Michael Reutimann, No. 00; Michael Waltrip, No. 55; Scott Speed, No. 82, wild card.

Notes: Logano replaced Stewart as driver of the No. 20; Speed is the wild card because he has points from the team’s No. 84.

FORD: Carl Edwards, No. 99; Greg Biffle, No. 16; Matt Kenseth, No. 17; David Ragan, No. 6; Jamie McMurray, No. 26; Paul Menard, No. 98; Bobby Labonte, No. 96, wild card.

Notes: Menard is new to Yates Racing and will drive what was the No. 28; Labonte is new to Yates and will drive what was the No. 38; Labonte is the wild card as a post series champion.

DODGE: Kasey Kahne, No. 9; David Stremme, No. 12; Kurt Busch, No. 2; Reed Sorenson, No. 43; Elliott Sadler, No. 19; Robby Gordon, No. 7, wild card.

Notes: Sorenson replaces Bobby Labonte; Gordon earned the wild card while driving a Dodge last year but will be in a Toyota beginning with the Daytona 500.

SHOOTOUT INFO

Race distance increased from 70 laps to 75 (187.5 miles) on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The race will have two segments of 25 and 50 laps. Both green- and yellow-flag laps will count. Between segments, there will be a 10-minute pit stop at which time teams will pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments.