Kahne to Hendrick...

[Burhead]

I was just thinking just now about this move:

Rick Hendrick buys out Dale's contract, Dale goes to RCR and agrees to drive the #3 again.
Happy gets out of his contract and goes to join Tony and Ryan at SHR and brings KHI's Nationwide and Truck series programs to Stewart-Haas Racing.
Mark agrees to retire at the end of the '11 season and Kasey slides into the #5.
That leaves one driver slot to be filled, Danica?

I'm not so sure Mark might not hang it up after this season and opens the #5 immediately for Kasey. Maybe its just me but Mark doesn't seem to having the fun he had last year when he was having success...

Also what if Dale brings JR Motorsports to the Cup circle? A lot of interesting theories to say the least, just read on NASCAR.com that Rick will have a final answer within 90 days.

 

[Sabanocchio]

I was just thinking just now about this move:

Rick Hendrick buys out Dale's contract, Dale goes to RCR and agrees to drive the #3 again.
Happy gets out of his contract and goes to join Tony and Ryan at SHR and brings KHI's Nationwide and Truck series programs to Stewart-Haas Racing.
Mark agrees to retire at the end of the '11 season and Kasey slides into the #5.
That leaves one driver slot to be filled, Danica?

I'm not so sure Mark might not hang it up after this season and opens the #5 immediately for Kasey. Maybe its just me but Mark doesn't seem to having the fun he had last year when he was having success...

Also what if Dale brings JR Motorsports to the Cup circle? A lot of interesting theories to say the least, just read on NASCAR.com that Rick will have a final answer within 90 days.

Interesting, but the bolded part is the only part I could see happening. Jr. isn't going anywhere and IMO Jr. Motorsports will look toward a long-term driver before making the jump to the cup series. What happens when Kasey moves to HMS and Jr cannot find the right guy to fill the seat?

I think Kevin Harvick's next boss will be Kevin Harvick (or Delana depending on how they work it. ) He will stick with RCR until he sees fit to make the jump to cup.

 

[Sabanocchio]

Really good stuff in this article.

"We've got a year hurdle to get over, but Kasey [Kahne] and I decided it was worth it," Hendrick said. "The success we've had here with the four teams has been good. With Mark saying that '11 is definitely the last year he can run the full schedule, sometimes you have a hard time matching up the opportunity that makes the seats open with the date the driver is available. It wasn't any doubt it my mind that this was a commitment that I would make to Kasey, put the burden on my shoulders, because I see him as a future star and a guy who'll be racing here a long time winning championships and races. We're going to figure out '11. If it was under the old regime, I'd have them building over here and I'd have five teams. But I can't do that. I understand that, he understands that, and we'll figure it out."

Hendrick said it was Martin himself who came to the car owner almost a year ago and advised that he keep an eye on the young driver. Kahne, in the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, said conversations with Hendrick began over the last few months, and that his friendly relationships with Martin and four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson helped assure him it was the place for him -- even if he had to wait a year to get there.

Hendrick said he hoped to have Kahne's 2011 plans wrapped up in about 90 days. The only definite for next season, the car owner said, is that Kahne will be driving a Chevrolet. The sponsor is undetermined, too -- Kahne said he wasn't sure whether Budweiser, his backer of the last three seasons, would be following him to his new home.

"It's my third year with Budweiser, and it's been a great partnership with those guys," Kahne said. "I really like the people and really enjoy the brand. But I don't know what the future is for myself and Budweiser. I definitely enjoy what I have now, and hope to stick with them for a long time. If that's what works out, great. But I really have no idea."

NASCAR.COM - For Kahne, owner, future worth uncertainty of '11 - Apr 14, 2010

 

[volnSC]

IMO Kahne will drive a 3rd SHM car next year and wait for Mark's contract to run out at the end of '11. Mark has already told Hendrick that he has no desire to return past that point. The most interesting thing to me is the sponorship deal. I really think Bud will follow Kasey to HMS. Both parties have really taken to one another well.

I am a huge Kahne fan and have been since he took over the 9 from "Awesome Bill" I think this is a great move for him and it WILL propel him to his first championship!

 

[Burhead]

Interesting, but the bolded part is the only part I could see happening. Jr. isn't going anywhere and IMO Jr. Motorsports will look toward a long-term driver before making the jump to the cup series. What happens when Kasey moves to HMS and Jr cannot find the right guy to fill the seat?

I think Kevin Harvick's next boss will be Kevin Harvick (or Delana depending on how they work it. ) He will stick with RCR until he sees fit to make the jump to cup.

In a scenario where JRM moves up to the cup series Kasey could ride one year in a HMS supported team (JRM is co-owned now by Dale/Rick). Then the following year Kasey goes over fully to HMS, Rick could let Jr. slide over and run his own equipment full time but still not letting Junior out of the HMS family circle...

I also read over on ESPN that Mark has told Rick that he would be willing to step aside for the greater good of HMS if need be.

 

[volnSC]

I also read over on ESPN that Mark has told Rick that he would be willing to step aside for the greater good of HMS if need be.

Mark did not tell anyone that. It is David Newton opinion that Mark may do this. It could happen though, Mark's son is racing more now and I think he wants to be there for more of those races.

 

[Burhead]

I must have just misread it then my apologies, I've been reading rumors that Kahne might wind up driving the 09 Chevy for James Finch/Phoenix Racing. At first I was really skeptical about that but if Hendrick were to foot the bill and provide Finch's team with the right resources like Rick did for Brad Keselowski then I might see it happening. It would allow Kahne to stay with the #9 and also let Bud follow him prior to jumping back to HMS.

Plus it would keep JRM in Nationwide and allow Stewart to still pursue Kevin Harvick for next year.

 

[volnSC]

I'm not sure about the Kahne to Phoenix Racing thing, first I've heard of that. I really like the idea of him driving a 3rd SHR car. Kasey has long looked up to Smoke and this would just get the 3rd team ready for Harvick to take over in '12.

 

[Burhead]

I'm not sure about the Kahne to Phoenix Racing thing, first I've heard of that. I really like the idea of him driving a 3rd SHR car. Kasey has long looked up to Smoke and this would just get the 3rd team ready for Harvick to take over in '12.

Just some things I've heard from other people claiming to have "inside sources". I am skeptical to about him driving the 09 as well but it would kinda make sense for all parties like I mentioned. The only problem I see with Kasey being the 3rd SHR car is Harvick needs a place to go...

I don't see RCR resigning him only for a year till h can jump ship for Stewart, there are to many theories right now that could potentially play out here. I wish these next 90 days would hurry up

 

[rbroyles]

It appears the most persistent theory has Martin staying through 2011 when Kahne takes over the 5 car. Kahne would drive a one year deal with Stewart-Haas.

This is about as good a move Kahne could make. Like HMS or not, that's where 90% of the drivers would want to be.

 

[Sabanocchio]

Mark did not tell anyone that. It is David Newton opinion that Mark may do this. It could happen though, Mark's son is racing more now and I think he wants to be there for more of those races.

Mark said today that he has no intention of stepping down, nor is he planning on retiring. It just shows how great of a guy Mark is that he actually sought out Kasey to replace him at HMS. He was very concerned about putting them in a better position after his departure. Of all the drivers out there, Kasey reminds me of Mark Martin the most. It's a fitting replacement.

Also Stewart says that he has had no discussions regarding a 3rd team and everything is speculation at this point.

“You guys know as much, if not more, than I do right now,” Stewart said. “The hard part is I don’t have the answers to anybody’s questions because nobody is talking about it. It’s all a lot of speculation right now. There’s no way I can comment on speculation and make it even make sense.”

And just like I said earlier in the thread, a move to Cup for JRM doesn't make sense because once Kasey moves to Hendrick, it leaves JRM without a driver or any guarantees.

“When Kasey leaves there, then we’re kind of sitting there with a lot of tangible assets that really aren’t worth what they cost to build and we wouldn’t have a guaranteed packaged driver and sponsor to put in there,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “That hasn’t been anything that I have heard that has been talked about or discussed.

“I’m not against [going to Cup]. But I’m afraid to do that could leave me out to dry financially once Kasey would leave and we would have to find another deal. There’s no guarantees. That would be too much of a risk.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart say talks haven?t begun with Kasey Kahne for 2011 Cup ride - Sprint Cup Series | NASCAR Racing News - SceneDaily.com

 

[Burhead]

With Mark planning on not retiring but racing full time in '12 it could fuel JRM's switch to Cup, but I honestly don't know why Hendrick would let Jr slide over to run for JRM in a situation like that. Dale wouldn't have a problem getting sponsorship and HMS/JRM could still form an alliance so Rick doesn't let Dale fully out of HMS grasps...

I honestly think that Stewart only wants to expand to three cars if the driver is Harvick, no one else.

 

[Sabanocchio]

With Mark planning on not retiring but racing full time in '12 it could fuel JRM's switch to Cup, but I honestly don't know why Hendrick would let Jr slide over to run for JRM in a situation like that. Dale wouldn't have a problem getting sponsorship and HMS/JRM could still form an alliance so Rick doesn't let Dale fully out of HMS grasps...

I honestly think that Stewart only wants to expand to three cars if the driver is Harvick, no one else.

Huh?

 

[rbroyles]

Huh?

Uhhhh........yeah, what he said.