Working On My Redneck ™ » kasey kahne

Evaluating The Silly Season Seat Changes

Leon — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:56:51 +0000

The Dinger's new ride

(WOMR file photo)

Of the announced seat changes that became public since the end of the 2011 Sprint Cup season, there are some upgrades in equipment and some obvious downgrades in equipment, as well. This is my evaluation of where some of these drivers stand following their off-season moves.

The drivers who have upgraded their positions

The first driver that comes to my attention as the most obvious upgrade has to be Kasey Kahne. His one year deal with Red Bull Racing was just a short pit stop with a team that was failing, and has officially shuttered their doors after the end of the 2011 season. In 2012, Kahne finds himself piloting the Hendrick Motorsports #5 Farmers Insurance Chevy, and doing so, for the foreseeable future. In addition to Kahne moving to HMS, he is bringing with him his longtime crew chief, Kenny Francis, as well.

The Dinger, better known as A.J. Almendinger, elevated his stature by securing the Penske Racing #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge driver’s seat. That seat opening became available after Kurt Busch’s infamous tirade and meltdown directed towards ESPN’s pit reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch. Last year The Dinger was employed, or underemployed, driving the Richard Petty Motorsports #43 Best Buy Ford. His future, and for that fact, the future of RPM has many question marks surrounding it. Best Buy bailed out on RPM after the end of the race season, and resurrected itself as a sponsor with the Roush-Fenway organization. The fact that the RPM#43 Ford team lost its major sponsorship was the out that allowed The Dinger to seek, and receive, his release from RPM. Thereby giving rise to the ability to seize the opportunity at Penske Racing, an obvious upgrade in equipment with better financing!

And the last driver to upgrade positions is none other than Danica Patrick. Not only will she be running a full Nationwide schedule for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and JR Motorsports, Patrick will also be augmenting that ride with a partial Sprint Cup schedule driving the Stewart-Haas Racing #10 GoDaddy.com Chevy.

The drivers who have downgraded their positions

The driver that took the biggest downgrade in both equipment and financing obviously is Kurt “The Mouth” Busch. Busch’s fall from grace is very well documented with problems at both Roush-Fenway Racing. Busch went from a primo ride with Penske Racing driving the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge to the very underfunded James Finch Phoenix Racing #51 Chevy. Even though Phoenix Racing receives their motors from Hendrick Motorsports, the team still has to be considered an underdog in the Sprint Cup world.

Clint Bowyer will take a step back as well. Bowyer moves from one of the premier race teams, Richard Childress Racing, to a very middle of the road team in the likes of Michael Waltrip Racing. Even though MWR has two race victories with David Reutimann, it still can not be considered a very serious threat on a weekly basis yet.

Bowyer’s departure from RCR is one still shrouded in a veil of mystery. Neither party really wants to take responsibility for the separation. Notwithstanding, it will be very interesting to see if Bowyer can be the key element that will lift MWR to the next level of competition in the Sprint Cup series.

Continuing with the Michael Waltrip Racing saga, Mark Martin is moving over to the MWR fold. Most certainly the fact that Martin is leaving Hendrick Motorsports, that too can only be noted as a downgrade. As you will recall, Martin is being unceremoniously removed from the HMS #5 Chevy to make room for the above mentioned Kasey Kahne. Martin won five races for HMS in 2009, however, he has been winless for the last two years.

Hanging with the MWR theme, David Reutimann was rooted out of his ride in the MWR #00 and replaced with the aforementioned Mark Martin. It was just announced that Reutimann was signed for a one year deal with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Even though MWR was not an upper tier race team, Reutimann hooking up with TBR would also be considered a downgrade, as well. TBR has struggled in its brief history, even though they made all the races in 2011. That team started out as a “start and park” until sponsorship could be secured.

But the real hard luck story for the 2012 season would be David Ragan. Having won the July Daytona race, The Coke Zero 400, Ragan now finds him without a ride in any series and nothing in sight, with just 51 days til the Daytona 500!

What are your views on the silly season driver changes?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Turner Motorsports Announces New Drivers

Leon — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:26:32 +0000

(WOMR file photo)

Turner Motorsports, along with Great Clips, Inc., announced Monday that Kasey Kahne will increase his time behind the wheel of the #38 Great Clips Chevrolet in 2012 to compete in 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series events. In addition to Kasey Kane piloting the Turner Motorsports #38 Great Clips Chevy, Kahne’s midget/sprint car protege, and employee at Kasey Kahne Racing, will be included into the driver package.

Brad Sweet, who has competed on a limited basis in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the last two years and in the USAC Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Series for Kasey Kahne Racing for the last four seasons, will make a run for the Rookie of the Year title and will round out the balance of the 33-race NNS schedule when Kahne is not behind the wheel.

Following in the footsteps of his mentor and boss, Kasey Kahne, Sweet made a name for himself in the national open-wheel racing circuits. After being tapped to drive for KKR in 2008 by Kahne, Sweet won the Belleville Midget Nationals, the Knoxville Midget Nationals and both the Sprint Car and Midget “Four Crown Nationals” at Eldora Speedway.

“I have had such a long-standing relationship with Great Clips and it’s been great teaming back up with them again,” says Kahne. “They gave me my first real shot in this sport and that is something I have never forgotten.”

For his part, Sweet is ready to jump into this next phase of his career and is grateful for the support of Great Clips, Turner Motorsports and Kahne.

“I can’t begin to say how excited and grateful I am for this opportunity to compete in the Nationwide Series and to join Kasey in representing Great Clips both on and off the track,” says Sweet. “Turner Motorsports is a first class organization with equipment capable of contending for wins week in and week out. I don’t think I could be in a better position to take the next step in my racing career.”

As a side note, if you check out the photos of Kasey Kahne Racing’s sprint cars and midgets, you will notice that Great Clips has aligned itself as a sponsor for KKR for the 2012 race season, as well.

After watching Brad Sweet race in the World of Outlaw sprint car series for KKR, it is my opinion that this young man could be a factor in the NASCAR circuit within the next three or four years, provided that he is placed into good equipment. It also appears that Kahne is keeping Sweet under his tutelage, trying to secure, and direct Brad in his fledgling NASCAR career. That can only be a positive for Sweet!

Therefore, with this announcement from Turner Motorsports, it would appear that they are getting a two-fer! This announcement comes with one well-seasoned winning veteran, and a very capable, up and coming, young hot-shoe as a package deal!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Kasey Kahne Wins One For Red Bull

Leon — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:22:42 +0000

(WOMR file photo)

This weekend the spotlight was on the two car race for the 2011 Sprint Cup championship, as well as the newly reconfigured, and newly resurfaced racing facility.

I can tell you from my view in my seat in the Allison Tower, from walking through the pits, as well as strolling up and pit road, this new configuration is fantastic. Even though the racing groove started out very thin, with just one lane of racing through practice on Thursday and Friday, however, by the start of the Nationwide race on Saturday afternoon, the racing groove had widened out allowing some side-by-side racing in the Nationwide race.

By the end of the Nationwide race the groove widened just in time for the K&N West Series to take the track and widen out the groove even more! Both the Nationwide and the K&N races were action packed, and very exciting preliminary races that promised to lead up to a very good Sprint Cup race Sunday!

Early on in the race Tony Stewart took control. For the first half of the race it appeared that he was cruising to his 5th win in the first nine races of the Chase! But as the day proceeded on, Kasey Kahne stole the spotlight. Kahne may not be in the Chase, however, for one day at least, he was the talk of NASCAR when he won the Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

This was Kahne’s first win for Red Bull Racing, his 11th career victory, and his first victory in 81 races.

“It feels so good,” Kahne said. “It’s been a long time coming. This whole Red Bull team has done an unbelievable job to keep working hard. Kenny Francis (crew chief) keeps on it – everybody at Red Bull, the car, the Toyota engine. It was a great run today. The guys did an awesome job. We fell back a little bit early and then came back and just kept getting it better. These guys haven’t given up in the last three months. It’s been really cool. It was really, really cool. It was slippery early, but as the tires built heat and got rubber on the track, the Goodyear tires came in pretty good. It ended up being a great race. I’m really excited.”

So the two-horse race for the championship leaves The Valley of The Sun heading for South Florida with exactly the same point spread that existed when they both drove through the tunnel Friday at Phoenix. Edwards leads Stewart by the slimmest of margins, just 3 points.

The drama is building for quite a spectacular championship weekend at Homestead! Stay tuned to see which one will unseat Mr. five Time, Jimmie Johnson!

Check out the unofficial results from the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix.

With one race to go for the Sprint Cup championship here is the standings.

Twelve drivers, now one race, on championship, who will be the last man standing?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Kahne To Run The #4 Red Bull Racing Toyota

Leon — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:47:27 +0000

(photo courtesy Red Bull Racing)

The Red Bull Racing photo shoot just concluded and it is official that Kasey Kahne will race the #4 Red Bull Racing Toyota Camry in the 2011 season.

From Kasey Kahne’s Twitter page: “Same 4 that i use when i race my sprint cars. Thanks to @redbullnascar and @nascar for allowing us to use it!”

RPM Owes Millions

Leon — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:48:18 +0000

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

The details are starting to slither out of the garage area, revealing that Richard Petty Motorsports may owe approximately $12 million dollars to the team’s chassis and engine builders.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source with knowledge of the situation told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that RPM had fallen $9-10 million behind in its payments to Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates Racing Engines for race cars, engines and rear gear assemblies. That debt prompted Roush to repossess the team’s Talladega cars, engines and gears earlier this week, but the cars were returned to RPM late Thursday morning after a partial payment was made. The engines reportedly remain in the possession of Roush Yates Racing Engines, awaiting an additional payment. (Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway)

Kahne said RPM has met all its financial responsibilities to him, dismissing rumors that the decision to split early made sense for both sides. Red Bull Racing will pay Kahne’s salary the rest of the season. Kahne said talks about a split began on Monday, two days after the brakes failed on his car for the second time in three races (and third time this season), leaving the driver frustrated. Kahne defended his decision not to return to the race after repairs were made, saying he was sick and unable to continue. He was offended that an RPM official questioned his commitment, saying he needed to do his part to help the team. “Anybody that questions my commitment doesn’t know me very well,” Kahne said. “I don’t know if there is anybody out there that puts as much into it as I do throughout the week. I was sick to my stomach and it was time for me to call it a day. I’m happy I did it and ready to get on with this weekend.” Kahne said the decision to split was not based on speculation that financial difficulties concerning RPM. He said he wished the team well the rest of the season. Kahne said he has agreed to maintain his commitments to sponsor Budweiser for the remainder of the season, including all meet and greets. He added this was not the way he wanted to end his relationship with Budweiser or RPM, but reiterated it was best for all parties.

IRONIC:

As SPEED opened Friday’s NASCAR TV coverage, it showed the #9 Richard Petty Motorpsorts and #83 Red Bull Racing team haulers parked next to each other and the #83 is parked next to the #19 RPM team in the garage at Martinsville. Kahne was shown talking to a crewman at RPM, with Kahne in his Red Bull Racing driver suit.

It appears that the CEO of Richard Petty Motorsports, George Gillett and company’s house of “smoke and mirrors”, are beginning to crumple. “The house of Gillett” resembles the old card shark’s bait and switch game that we are all accustomed top seeing in the shadier sides of town!

No doubt there will be more details that will emerge on the financial news surrounding George Gillett and RPM.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Scott Speed Out At Red Bull In 2011

Leon — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:15:40 +0000

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Scott Speed’s option for the 2011 NASCAR season has not been picked up by Red Bull Racing. That has now made Speed scurrying about the garage area scouring for a ride for the 2011 NASCAR race season!

People closest to this situation have confirmed that Kasey Kahne will replace Speed for 2011 in the #82 Red Bull Racing Toyota, which may change to a Chevy for 2011. With Kahne taking over the that ride there will be a few changes in that team. The first of the changes will the the number of the race car. The #82 team will be renumbered to #4 to reflect the number that Kahne uses in his sprint car racing.

Secondly, Kahne’s crew chief from the #9 RPM Budweiser Ford, Kenny Francis, will be the crew chief on the new #4 Red Bull Racing team, beginning in 2011. The current crew chief of the #83 team, Jimmy Elledge, is likely the odd crew chief out of the organization. Ryan Pemberton, the crew chief for the current #82 team, would move back to the #83 team with Vickers. Also some rumors have been floated out there that Red Bull Racing could switch from Toyota to Chevy, with engines and chassis coming from Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne will move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, to the #5 Chevy.

Red Bull Racing will field only two teams next season with Kasey Kahne in the #82/#4 car and Brian Vickers in the #83, general manager Jay Frye said on Friday. Vickers’ spot is contingent on his health. He has missed the last two-thirds of this season after being diagnosed with blood clots. If Vickers is healthy, #82 driver Scott Speed will become a free agent. Speed has a performance clause in his contract that relieves Red Bull Racing from financial responsibility past this season if he doesn’t finish in the top 16 in points. Speed is 28th in points with five races remaining. “We’re still monitoring Brian’s health,” Frye said. “So far everything looks really good.” Frye said speculation that the #82 car would be changed to the #4 for Kahne next season is premature, noting there is an issue with Morgan-McClure, which retains the rights to the number.

So the question that begs to be asked is, “where will Scott Speed land in 2011″? What is your view?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Rumors Swirl At RPM

Leon — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:23:20 +0000

(photo courtesy Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

The abrupt departure of Kasey Kahne from Richard Petty Motorsports fueled the rumor mill Thursday about the ongoing financial status of George Gillette and Richard Petty Motorsports.

Multiple sources confirmed to SPEED.com on Thursday that Roush Fenway Racing, which builds RPM’s cars, briefly repossessed RPM’s Talladega cars and engines because of non-payment. Roush Fenway Racing allowed RPM to take the cars back Thursday morning, sources told SPEED.com.

Additionally, sources said that one of the reasons Kahne was released from the team is that RPM owed him a substantial amount of back salary.

A team spokesperson contacted Thursday afternoon declined to say whether or not Kahne was owed money, Roush Fenway Racing was owed money, when team owner George Gillett would publicly discuss his team’s situation or what RPM’s plans were beyond this weekend. “There’s just nothing much to comment on right now,” said Tiffany Breaux of Richard Petty Motorsports.

Breaux did say that Kahne asked for his release from the team and the decision to split with RPM was “mutual.”

Ford Motor Co. officials declined comment, saying it was an issue involving teams only and not the manufacturer.

An RPM team source confirmed Thursday that the team is in a “state of turmoil” and that some team members have serious doubts about their futures – and their paychecks.

Gillett became embroiled recently in a dispute with John Henry, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing. Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, bought the Liverpool, England, soccer team from Gillett and his business partner, Tom Hicks, but the sale has been tied up in a financial imbroglio. Repercussions from that dispute apparently played a role in the Roush Fenway Racing decision to put tighter reins on its affiliation with RPM.

There was no indication Thursday that RPM is in immediate danger of shutting its doors, but the team had not revealed its driver lineup beyond this weekend’s visit to Martinsville.

Now that he’s been released from RPM, Kahne will drive the #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota starting this weekend at Martinsville. Kahne will stay in that car for the final five races of 2010, before moving to the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota next year, which will change to #4, Kahne’s sprint car number. With Brian Vickers back in the #83 next year, it appears Scott Speed will be the odd man out next season at Red Bull.

Stay tuned, the puzzle pieces are starting to fit together nicely now!

TILL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Kahane Out At RPM

Leon — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:09:25 +0000

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Richared Petty Motorsports has released Kasey Kahne from his contract effective immediately, the team announced Wednesday evening. On Thursday, Red Bull Racing announced that they will be putting Kahne into the #83 Red Bull Toyota for this weekend’s race at Martinsville, and for the rest of the 2010 season.

RPM announced Kahne was out of the #9 Budweiser Ford effective immediately, and Aric Almirola would drive the car this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Almirola had been on NASCAR’s entry list to drive the #83 Toyota for Red Bull. But the plans apparently were scrapped after Kahne’s blowup Saturday night, when his brakes failed at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kahne exploded in anger on the radio when his brakes failed for the third time this season, second time in two races. It led to a wreck with Sam Hornish Jr., and then Kahne refused to get back in the car after it was repaired. He cited illness for not going back on the track, and the team used J.J. Yeley to finish the race.

For Kahne, the Martinsville weekend allows him to get acclimated with Red Bull Racing Team cars and personnel. He, crew chief Jimmy Elledge and the No. 83 crew open the weekend with practice Friday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Kahne had reportedly been squabbling with RPM officials in recent weeks. On Saturday night, he refused to get back into the car after it was fixed because of a crash. He said he was ill and that was the reason he did not get back into the car.

With the bombshell announcement by RPM Wednesday night, there may be a few more handgrenades detonating over the next few days. With Kahne out of the #9Budweiser Ford, that might allow Marcus Ambrose to leave JTG/Daugherty Racing #47 Toyota early and jump into the RPM #9 Budweiser Ford for the last five races of this season. In light of all these potential switches, this would also allow Bobby Labonte the chance to get into his 2011 ride in the #47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota a little early, as well!

The pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fall out of the sky rapidly, now it is up to the team owners to grab them quickly, and reassemble them into some orderly place within their respective race teams!

What is your take on this latest development?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

It’s An All RPM Starting Front Row At Kansas

Leon — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:20:39 +0000

(photo courtesy Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

There have been many questions about the future of Richard Petty Motorsports during the 2010 season. However, there were no questions about who ended up winning the pole for the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speeedway Friday. Kasey Kahne turned a lap of 174.644 on the Kansas Speedway mile and a half race track, securing the pole position.

Probably one of the biggest surprises of the day was having Kahne’s RPM team mate, Paul Menard, turn in the second fastest lap of the day resulting in an all Richard Petty Motorsports starting front row!

The RPM #9 Budweiser Ford is on the pole for the third time this season, however, Kahne is still looking for his first victory of the year. In spite of their great qualifying performances, both Kahne and Menard will be leaving Richard Petty Motorsports for other race teams at the end of the 2010 race year.

“To me it (the good showings Friday) shows that myself and Paul and our teams are still really interested in running strong and not backing down at all just because we have other things we are going to do in the future,” Kahne said. “At the same time it shows that RPM is giving us great race cars. Roush Yates is giving us great engines. We have the package, we just need to put it all together.

“We have struggled. We had that deal in Atlanta that maybe made us miss the Chase and we haven’t run well since. It feels got to get on the pole today and hopefully it gives us some momentum for Sunday’s race. Hopefully we can carry that.”

So Sunday will be a very interesting race, the Chase climate will show a definite change. By the end of the race Sunday, there will definitely a growing division between “the contenders” and “the pretenders”! The Sun will be shining brightly on those contenders still firmly in “The Chase”, however for the bottom four race teams, this weekend’s performance will be very critical for them!

Here is the race line up for the Price Chopper 400 at the Kansas Speedway.

There are twelve drivers, eight races, and one championship, who will be the last man standing?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Martin-Hendrick: Could Get Ugly

Leon — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:23:13 +0000

(photo courtesy Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

If anyone doesn’t think that Mark Martin is a proud old warrior, you better rethink that thought! Martin made it clear last week in a very rare flare of anger after ESPN analyst, former crew chief and team owner, Ray Evernham, suggested that Mark Martin should bow out gracefully from the Hendrick Motorsports stable of drivers to allow Kasey Kahne into the #5 Chevy.

The audacity of that suggestion struck a very raw nerve in the 51 year old warrior. An irate Martin made it abundantly clear that he will not give up his ride without a fight! He has a contract with HMS and fully expects Hendrick to fulfill his part of the contract! Anything less than that is totally unacceptable to Martin.

Rick Hendrick created this mess by signing Kasey Kahne to a contract that is not starting until 2012. Granted, Hendrick needed to strike and sign Kahne early, however what is a driver of Kahne’s caliber to do for the 2011 season? Therein lies the confusion, the rancor, and a huge logistics problem. Hendrick has five drivers signed with the maximum of four race teams allowed by NASCAR. No problem according to Hendrick, Kahne will join the team after Martin leaves at the end of the 2011 season!

Obviously Hendrick wanted Kahne to join his company, no matter what the cost. However, it has been a disaster in the making from the start. Why make the announcement in early 2010 for the 2012 season? That announcement only fueled the fire of speculation over Kahne’s future employment status for 2011. The collateral damage from Hendrck’s announcement has caused the waters surrounding Mark Martin to become muddied, turbulent, and infected with alligators waist deep!

In 2010, Martin’s team has struggled with their performance, adding additional fuel to the fire, and magnifying this tenuous position that Martin has been thrust into! The outside speculation and pressure continues to mount weekly

So this is the deal. HMS has five very talented drivers, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt,Jr.,Mark Martin, and Kasey Kahne, signed to drive four cars. It doesn’t appear that Hendrick has been able to line up a ride for Kasey Kahne for the 2011 season, at this point in time. A talented driver, such as Kahne, will not be willing to sit out an entire season waiting for the contract to become enforceable.

Therefore, having five drivers for only four race teams has put rick Hendrick into a very delicate situation. Martin has made it very clear that he is not “expendable”, and is not going to be pushed out of the #5 Chevy! Hendrick has been extremely busy trying to line up employment in 2011 for Kahne. As the season starts to draw to close, the possibilities for Kahne’s 2011 season are not looking so bright!

The Kanhe signing has had many side affects within the HMS organization. Nevertheless, you can’t fault Hendrick for grabbing Kahne when he could, even though it has turned into a car owners worst nightmare!

Hendrick’s options seems to be dwindling as the days tick off! What is car owner to do?

What are your thoughts as to how Hendrick could solve his delicate problem?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!