HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Mild-mannered Kasey Kahne is best known for driving fast and being the victim of three females who love to pursue the handsome driver in Allstate commercials.
On Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kahne was being pursued by police after he was involved in an incident with a track security guard.
NASCAR officials and Homestead Miami-Speedway representatives refused to comment on details of the incident, referring inquiries to the Homestead, Fla., police.
“There was some kind of misunderstanding at the gate,” said Ray Evernham, Kahne’s Nextel Cup car owner. “I really don’t have a lot more information than that.”
According to a team spokesman, Kahne was wearing a driver’s suit after Busch Series practice ended at 7:30 p.m. Kahne was trying to get to his motor home at the track so he could change clothes and depart for a sponsor commitment at The Fish House in Key Largo at 8:30 p.m.
Kahne’s brother, Kale, was stopped by security officials at the gate to the motor home lot because he did not have the proper credentials for admittance. Kasey Kahne tried to convince the guard his brother was legitimate and belonged in the area.
A physical confrontation took place, and NASCAR.com reported that the security guard was pushed to the ground. According to reports, track officials would not provide the security guard’s name or even confirm that he worked for the speedway. Many security officials at race tracks are not full-time personnel and sometimes volunteer. Because of this, sources said, they are often overzealous in their effort to exert authority.
Several unruly people without credentials were ejected from that area earlier in the day and security personnel were told to enforce the credential rules more strictly. When Kahne tried to walk past the security officials to get to the lot, he was blocked. After contact was made, the security officer claimed he was pushed to the ground.
According to a spokesman, Kahne said it was all a misunderstanding.