Only two races are remaining until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup kicks off, and Kasey Kahne is confident that he can pull of a comeback by the time New Hampshire rolls around.

“It’s been a good season for us and I’m glad that we’re in a position to still make the Chase and have a good shot at it,” Kahne confirmed. “We ran into some problems the last two weeks that set us back. I was looking at sixth in points and being able to get there (into the Chase). Now, we’re a little further behind. I’m just excited to be in the position that we’re in.”

This weekend Kahne and the No. 9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports team will migrate to Fontana, California in an attempt to reappear in the top-12.

"I like California. We’ve usually been pretty strong on that type of track and we’ve had some success there before, so coming off of a disappointing weekend at Bristol, it’s definitely good to be going to a track you feel you can run well at.”

Kahne has participated in nine events at Auto Club Speedway in his career. In those nine races he has assembled one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes at the location.

Kahne’s worst finish, out of the races he has completed, at the venue was 13th. The driver of the No. 9 Dodge has two DNF’s at Auto Club Speedway both coming in the spring events of 2005 and 2007.

“I have a real legitimate shot at making the Chase and a great shot at running well this weekend,” Kahne noted. “I’m just looking forward to the challenge and seeing how it all works out.”

Only two drivers are preventing him from grabbing his spot in the Chase, both of whom are with other race teams.

Clint Bowyer currently occupies the 12th, and final, seat with 56 points separating the two. Right behind Bowyer is sophomore sensation David Ragan, who is in front of Kahne by a meager 44 points.

Kahne knows that due to an engine failure last year at California, the track can be hard on engines. Kahne also states that the cars handling in the corners will be key to having success this weekend, but due to his fondness of the speedway he is eager to showcase his abilities there.

“California doesn't have a lot of banking but it is a pretty fast track,” Kahne shared. “I think, like every track, getting the car to handle in the corners is the biggest thing. It's a two-mile track and the front and back stretches are pretty long. I do think it is a track that can be tough on engines, as we discovered last year but it is a track I enjoy so I'm looking forward to it."

Look for the No. 9 to make a strong effort to flood back into NASCAR’s coveted top-12 this weekend in the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway.