With one of NASCAR’s brightest stars fired and rehired mid-week, a storyline expected in the Silly Season has quickly overshadowed coverage of the sport’s post-season, the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Fired by Richard Petty Motorsports following a mid-race radio tirade and alleged garage confrontation, NASCAR star Kasey Kahne was hired just 16 hours later by Red Bull Racing for the final five races of the 2010 season.
Kahne, who failed to qualify for the 2010 Chase after a disappointing season with RPM, was already slated to drive for Red Bull beginning in 2011 and move to Hendrick Motorsports for the 2012 season. However, his move was accelerated when Kahne, citing a stomach illness, refused to get back in the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge after an early accident at Charlotte Motor Speedway, seemingly starting the chain reaction leading to his departure. (And for full disclosure, Kahne was well enough to run in a charity 5k the next morning.)
Only days later, 11-time Sprint Cup Series winner Kahne now finds himself suiting up to drive the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota in 2010, to the unexpected pleasure of Red Bull officials.
“With our agreement only being for one year, there is a great sense of urgency to get started on 2011,” said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing vice president and general manager. “With Kasey coming earlier than planned, we are excited to have a five-race head start.”
The move will likely have no impact on NASCAR’s Chase for the championship, as neither RPM nor Red Bull have a driver involved in the 12-man post-season; Red Bull simply gains a five-race exhibition with Kahne. Meanwhile, defending four-time champion Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, who hopes calamity befalls the leaders to buoy his chances, will battle for the 2010 title during those final-five races.
While local NASCAR fans might hope a red-headed legend from Dawsonville, Bill Elliott, will be reunited with the No. 9 Dodge he began driving in 2000, Aric Almirola was tapped to move from the No. 83 to the No. 9, which opened the door for Kahne’s immediate move to Red Bull. The crew chief for the No. 9 team, Kenny Francis, will remain with RPM through the end of 2010 before an off-season move to Red Bull to again work with Kahne in 2011.
Should the next five races prove to be fruitful for Kahne with Red Bull, it would be a damning statement to the competitiveness of RPM in 2010 – excluding Kahne, the team has just two top-10 finishes in 93 combined starts – and a win by Kahne would likely ensure what was expected to be an off-season story remains in the headlines and overshadows the Chase.
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