Kahne ends drought at marathon Brickyard

INDIANAPOLIS » Kasey Kahne survived a crash-marred Brickyard 400 on Sunday for his first NASCAR Cup victory in nearly three years.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver won under caution in the race that took more than six hours to complete, finally finishing in fading light after 167 laps and double overtime. Brad Keselowski was second. It was a wild day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. — driving the two fastest cars — going out in a crash with 49 laps to go.

That was only a prelude the nutty final 20 laps that included five crashes, two of which brought out red flags.

Busch looked as if he would make history as the first driver to win three consecutive Brickyards when he led the first 71 laps — and 87 overall. But when Truex’s car slid up the track, both cars hit the wall.

That opened the door for Kahne, who had struggled all season. And as the crashes happened behind, Kahne overcame muscle cramps to hold on for his 18th career victory and first since Atlanta in August 2014.

WEST GOSHEN » The West Chester East boys basketball head coaching position, which had been vacant since Chris Cowles left to take the head job at Unionville in June, has been filled.

Tom Durant, a former head boys and girls basketball coach at Penncrest, as well as a softball, baseball and tennis coach, has been given the job to revive an East program that went 3-19 last season and has not had a winning season in seven years.

“We are truly excited about Tom coming on board,” said West Chester East athletic director Sue Cornelius. “We are looking forward to him guiding our program going forward. Tom brings a wealth of experience not only in basketball but in coaching in general. He has a great way of motivating and getting the most out of the student-athlete.”

Durant, who was the head coach at Penncrest when the boys won the Central League title in 1999, is very excited about getting things pointed in the right direction at West Chester East.

“I’m really excited about taking over at East,” Durant said. “I feel fortunate about the opportunity and excited to get things moving. Everyone I have met at East has been awesome, the administrative staff, athletic department, booster group, coaches and players. You feel the family care.

“I feel very lucky to be a part of Viking basketball. Coach Cowles has ben very helpful in the transition process and I am excited to have coach Jim Boyd in the program. Now the work begins so we have to get started.”