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Kahne to Hendrick in 2011

Dilla

By Dilla,
in Charlotte Football Club

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Dilla

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Kasey Kahne has found a new team for 2011.

The superstar driver is heading to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2011 along with current sponsor Budweiser, a source told FOXSports.com.

While not confirming his future destination, Richard Petty Motorsports released a statement saying Kahne informed them that he would not be returning after his contract expires at the end of the season.

“Drivers like Kasey Kahne are the very reason we got into this sport. Kasey has helped us get to where we are today,” Richard Petty Motorsports owner George Gillett said in the statement. “We wish him well in his future however we have the rest of this season to race together and we’re looking forward to a successful remainder of the year.”

Kahne is the jewel of the 2010 free agent class which also includes former Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and former Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick.

The 30-year-old driver has 11 wins, 43 top fives and 79 top 10s in Sprint Cup competition since 2004. His best season to date was in 2006 when he won six races and finished eighth in the championship.

This has been a tough season for Kahne. In his first season driving a Ford, he has just two top-10 finishes in the first seven races and is mired in 26th in the standings.

"We all wish him nothing but the best and hope he succeeds in anything he chooses to do,” said Richard Petty in a statement.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/Kahne-leaving-Petty-after-2010

Petty just lost a car, they're struggling right now, I doubt they will get enough sponsorship to keep that car alive, unless Air Force or Golden Corral comes back.

Edit: ESPN is still saying the 5 car at Hendrick. Which one is it?

Edit 2: I guess it is Steward-Haas in 2011, then maybe moving to Hendrick when Martin's contract is up after next season.

Kasey Kahne, the hottest potential free agent in NASCAR entering this season, has signed a multiyear agreement to join Hendrick Motorsports, multiple sources close to the negotiations confirmed to ESPN.com on Tuesday.

It was reported initially that Kahne's deal with Hendrick would begin in 2011, but sources said details of the partnership -- including when Kahne will begin driving for the team and in which car -- are still being finalized.

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Kahne

"I've actually thought a lot about that but I'm not sure what I'm going to do next year," Kahne said after taking batting practice with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Tuesday. "I've given it some thought though."

Sources confirm that Mark Martin will drive the No. 5 car through the 2011 season.

Kahne is in the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, and plans to finish the season in the No. 9 Ford, sources said. It is unknown whether Kahne's sponsor, Budweiser, will accompany him to HMS.

RPM sent out a release acknowledging Kahne would not be renewing his contract after this season.

"Kasey is a very talented driver and I have enjoyed watching him race. We all wish him nothing but the best and hope he succeeds in anything he chooses to do," team owner Richard Petty said.

There is room for Martin and Kahne in the Hendrick family. Stewart Haas Racing receives chassis, engines and technical support from HMS. So Kahne could be housed there until Martin's contract was up.

In 2008 Dale Earnhardt Jr. signed a five-year deal with Hendrick. Jimmie Johnson last year signed an extension through 2015, and Jeff Gordon has a lifetime contract.

Hendrick Motorsports officials had no comment.

Calls placed to Kahne, who turned 30 last weekend, and to his agent were not returned.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=5082269
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^As long as Dale Jr. keeps bringing in sponsorship dollars, I doubt it. Besides, there is talk of JR Motorsports moving up in a couple of years, with Hendrick support of course.

depends if Hendrick has to fulfill his obligation to Kelloggs or if he is done with it
What obligation? Kellogg's is now with Roush Racing part-time on Carl Edwards' car.

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Update: It's the 5 car. . .in 2012.

Beginning with the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Kasey Kahne will drive the #5 Chevys of Hendrick Motorsports after signing a long-term contract with the organization.

Mark Martin, 51, the current driver of Hendrick Motorsports' #5 team, will complete the 2010 and 2011 seasons. When Kahne takes over in 2012, he will join teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Hendrick's four-car stable.

"In Kasey, we saw an opportunity to cement a big piece of our future," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "He possesses incredible talent and a tremendous dedication to his craft, and we know he'll be a great fit within our company. Kasey has earned the respect of his future teammates by the way he's handled himself on and off the racetrack, and we know he'll be a contributor to the success of Hendrick Motorsports for many years to come. To have someone of his caliber join our team is an unbelievable opportunity for us."

"I have a comfort level with Mr. Hendrick, my future teammates and the culture of the organization," said Kahne, whose contract with Hendrick Motorsports will run through the 2015 Sprint Cup season. "For me, it's the right fit on every level, and I think it gives me a great chance to win races and compete for championships. "Determining the next step in my career has been an important process, and I'm excited and relieved to have the decision made and announced. Now it's my responsibility to put all of my energy into winning races and having a successful 2010 with my current team and our sponsors."

Although 2012 and beyond has been solidified, Kahne is not scheduled to drive a Hendrick Motorsports entry in 2011 due to NASCAR's four-car limit. While who he will race for has not yet been determined, Kahne intends to drive a full Sprint Cup Series schedule next season.

"If this opportunity was going to happen, I knew having some unanswered questions would be part of the scenario at this stage," Kahne acknowledged. "Hendrick Motorsports has a commitment to Mark Martin that they want to fulfill, and that's important. It's part of what attracts me to the team.

So it's Stewart-Haas next year I guess.
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