Kahne to Hendrick...

#1
TennesseeFan07

TennesseeFan07

Give me 3 more!!!
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Mar 12, 2007
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#1
Wonder who's leaving? Mark has been as quoted as saying he wants to race for awhile. Johnson isn't going anywhere. Dale is locked up till 2013, I think. I wonder if JG's back is getting to be too much?
 
#4
#4
Sounds like a good move for Kahne. So, is that force out on Martin? I didnt understand how the article said that both could still run for HMS.
 
#5
#5
I'm betting it's the Hendrick "satellite team" SHR. Which all, but seals that Kevin Harvick will remain with RCR next season instead of bolting to Stewart.
 
#6
#6
Too bad, I kinda liked Kasey, but not over at Government Motors. Oh well.
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#9
#9
JTrainDavis said:
Too bad, I kinda liked Kasey, but not over at Government Motors. Oh well.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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I understand being upset with our government for making that deal but GM did what they had to do. I don't blame them for accepting it.
 
#10
#10
I'm not surprised to see Kahne leaving RPM, I didn't expect him to wind up at Hendrick though. My opinions are he'll be shifted to Stewart-Haas Racing like some mentioned until Mark's contract runs out. To be honest I'm not so sure the Harvick to SHR deal still couldn't wind up happening this off season.
 
#11
#11
Pure awesomeness. As a huge Kasey Kahne fan, I can think of no better move than to the premier team in the business. I wouldn't mind seeing him at Stewart-Haas either which is the likely scenario until Martin steps down.
 
#12
#12
Something I found interesting. I doubt it comes to be because when Jr. makes the jump to the Cup series I expect it to be with a driver he expects to be there long-term, but still an interesting scenario.

Here is a thought. Might he become the first Sprint Cup driver for JR Motorsports?

There are at least three pieces to the puzzle that make this at least a possibility. First, HMS and JR Motorsports are already closely aligned. Second, the JR Motorsports shop is easily capable of housing a Sprint Cup team. And perhaps most intriguing of all, such a deal would allow Kahne’s sponsor, Budweiser, to realign itself with JR Motorsports’s owner, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Budweiser had been a long time sponsor of Earnhardt’s when he drove the #8 car for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. When Junior left that team for HMS, he and Bud were forced to split as Mountain Dew and Amp Energy Drink were brought on to back his new ride.

Budweiser found Kahne to carry their banner in 2008. No doubt, the massive brewery would prefer not to have to begin a new relationship with another driver, so keeping Kahne in the fold would seem to make sense. And, they would no doubt relish the opportunity to rejoin the sport’s most popular driver, even in the role as a pseudo team owner.

Granted, there seemed to be some issue that kept Bud out of HMS in 2008, but these are new and different times. And, technically at least, they would not be sponsoring a Hendrick car in such a deal.

In the past, Earnhardt has denied rumors that his team would field Sprint Cup cars. However, that was in the past. Perhaps, now would be the time for such a thing to occur. And more, a team could then be in place for Danica Patrick or some other driver to assume in 2012.

Much speculation already has Kahne driving for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2011 as he waits out Martin’s farewell. But, a union between Kahne and Junior does not seem so outlandish, especially when the Budweiser/Junior angle is considered.
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#13
#13
I think this is a win-win for both sides. Kahne has obviously not been happy with the whole Petty fiasco, and Hendrick eventually will be looking to fill Martin's seat. Kahne should flourish at HMS, probably the best chance at a title as he has had in his career. Good luck Kasey!
 
#15
#15
I think it will be interesting to see what Budweiser does here. Do they follow Kahne to both stops? Straight to Hendrick in anticipation of his move to the 5? Or do they look for another driver altogether?
 
#17
#17
I could see a #5 Kasey Kahne Bud car. Hendrick used to have the Bud sponsor with Ken Schrader years ago. I think the hang up with Jr. keeping them was that Hendrick already had Amp/Mountain Dew/ National Guard lined up and just didn't have a car for the Bud sponsor.

IDK, maybe Pepsi had objections to them joining Hendrick being a different beverage company even though one is alcoholic. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

I don't know how involved Go Daddy is with the 5 for 2011-12 but it seems Budweiser would be worth a lot more money.
 
#19
#19
dantheman617 said:
Doesn't Hendrick have something against beer/liquor companies being on his cars?
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Not sure if something has changed but he used to have the Budweiser sponsor. I know Petty Enterprises wouldn't allow beer sponsors on their cars but I guess Richard didn't have a say at RPM since George Gillett is the majority owner.
 
#20
#20
Vol Mania 21 said:
could bud go w/ keslowski? he's a JR boy, and he has a bold driving style.
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Keselowski may be staying at Penske now that Kahne is in line for the 5 car. Jeff Gordon recently said he wants to race another 5 or 6 years so they should be set for a while. He may go to Stewart's team but I don't see that as an upgrade over Penske at this point.
 
#24
#24
Brad K was never going back to HMS. Penske doesn't time share race car drivers.
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#25
#25
doozer said:
Brad K was never going back to HMS. Penske doesn't time share race car drivers.
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Agreed. The whole rumor of him returning was based on an out-of-context quote from Rick Hendrick. I never thought the rumor had any merit. It was just Rick being complimentary of a departing driver.
 
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