Just for some fun Speculation

[Burhead]

Where do you personally see Kasey Kahne driving in '11?

The scenario everyone keeps clamoring about is a third SHR car but I just don't see it personally. First the #14 has lost the Old Spice sponsorship leaving both current SHR cars underfunded for the 2011 season. Also with the sluggish performance thus far from Tony I think his first priority would be getting his #14 team back on track.

Also comes the aspect of Rick Hendrick basically slapping Nascar in the face if he farmed Kahne out to SHR. Everyone and their brother knows that Rick basically is running SHR behind the scenes with personnel and technical support. I also read where SHR's competition director would like to have everything, including driver and sponsorship, squared away by June 1st. He also said he has not had any talks with HMS about accommodating Kahne for the 2011 season.

Right now I really don't know where he'll be driving. I've read on the internet that their were rumors that he'd drive the #09 Phoenix Racing Chevy with Hendrick support like Brad K did last year. But James Finch threw a curve ball out there when he announced he was retiring and selling his team. Also it has come out that Mark Martin is looking to be an owner if he got a deal like Tony got. Finch did say he'll split the ownership deal 50-50 with who ever wants to buy it...

Maybe Mark with a little help from Rick buys Phoenix, "hires" Kahne for '11 and gets the #09 within the top-35 for '12 and he moves to the #09 and races it in '12 and beyond.

 

[rbroyles]

When Stewart was asked if Khane was going to drive for him in 2011, his answer was, "no one has told me that". A possibly revealing way of stating it? If he is in charge, why does anyone have to tell him?

 

[TennesseeFan07]

I say SHR or the 09.

Tony has always thought very highly of Kahne. This is why I believe that it can happen. That said, they're having big trouble finding full sponsorship for 2 teams.

As for the 09, I think it's possible since Finch is selling up. Hendrick will still hold a share in the team and he may throw Kasey in the 09.

 

[tidwell]

I think they'll find a way (or already have found a way) to get him in a true HMS car. Maybe Martin agrees to wind down his career (again) with an HMS affiliated team like SHR. Maybe Dale Jr. and HMS part ways given how sorry that situation has been with really no reason to believe that it's going to magically turn around. Even less likely, maybe Gordon is ready to quit and be the family man with his daughter and another kid on the way. Is his back still bothering him? Perhaps another reason to go ahead and call it a career.

I can't believe Kahne sign with HMS without knowing he's guaranteed something better than a brand new team at SHR or something worse like the 09. But, maybe he did.

 

[doozer]

maybe not having a ride is better than driving for Petty.

 

[Burhead]

I think they'll find a way (or already have found a way) to get him in a true HMS car. Maybe Martin agrees to wind down his career (again) with an HMS affiliated team like SHR. Maybe Dale Jr. and HMS part ways given how sorry that situation has been with really no reason to believe that it's going to magically turn around. Even less likely, maybe Gordon is ready to quit and be the family man with his daughter and another kid on the way. Is his back still bothering him? Perhaps another reason to go ahead and call it a career.

I can't believe Kahne sign with HMS without knowing he's guaranteed something better than a brand new team at SHR or something worse like the 09. But, maybe he did.

The 09 was competitive when HMS put Brad K in the car last year, IMO if Kahne goes to 09 I think we could expect a competitive car each race.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

If Kahne goes to the 09, it will be competitive. Hendrick hasn't had much to do with Finch. It's just that Finch has benefited some from Rick by allowing him to test some of his drivers in the 09. Hendrick sure had a lot more involvement in the 39 and 14 than he previously had with the 70 and 66.

 

[Burhead]

I do wonder when an announcement will be made regarding Kasey's 2011 plans, Rick said that he wants them finalized 90s after the news broke. That would put us about July 13th or so, guess we got awhile longer to speculate.

 

[615 Vol]

I think they'll find a way (or already have found a way) to get him in a true HMS car. Maybe Martin agrees to wind down his career (again) with an HMS affiliated team like SHR. Maybe Dale Jr. and HMS part ways given how sorry that situation has been with really no reason to believe that it's going to magically turn around. Even less likely, maybe Gordon is ready to quit and be the family man with his daughter and another kid on the way. Is his back still bothering him? Perhaps another reason to go ahead and call it a career.

I can't believe Kahne sign with HMS without knowing he's guaranteed something better than a brand new team at SHR or something worse like the 09. But, maybe he did.

Gordon recently said that he had a change of heart and now wants to race longer than he had previously stated. He claims that he wants his daughter to be old enough to understand and see him racing in the car but I think it has more to do with him not liking the way he has run the past few years and wanting to turn it around. I'm sure it also bothers him that Jimmie is showing him up on his own team.