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It's been a season to forget for Kasey Kahne. A year after leading the Cup garage with six victories, one of the circuit's most popular drivers sits all the way down in 19th place in the points standings, out of the Chase and out of the general conversation. His problems began well before the Daytona 500, when off-season testing by his two-car Evernham Motorsports team produced a bunch of faulty data. The setups that resulted left Kahne and teammate Elliott Sadler driving ill-handling racecars that wobbled dangerously any time they got into traffic. The two drivers then spent nearly half the season conducting race-day test sessions, trying out new setups in Cup races in a bid to set things right.
It was an awful run, but there are indications that Kahne's team is coming around, and even more signs that point to a turnaround in 2008. In his last 12 races, the 2004 rookie of the year has six top-10 finishes. In his first 23 races this year, he had just two. So it would seem that the setup problems that have bedeviled Kahne and crew chief Kenny Francis so much this season are finally behind them. Also, two of those top-10s came in Car of Tomorrow races, a sign that the Evernham CoT program is also coming up to speed. In nine previous CoT races, Kahne had zero top-10 finishes.
Kahne can also look forward to having more resources on hand thanks to owner Ray Evernham's decision to bring in a business partner, in this case, Canadian businessman George Gillette Jr. The new Gillette Evernham Motorsports will also have a new sponsor for the No. 9 in 2008, Budweiser, fresh off a highly profitable run with Dale Earnhardt Jr. After spending the 2007 season as one of the Nextel-Cup garage's have-nots, Kahne is suddenly awash in an embarrassment of riches.
One way for Kahne and Francis to avoid the sort of testing gaffe that compromised them this season is to get more data. The only way that is really going to happen is if GEM can expand beyond a two-car operation. Discussions for a merger with Petty Enterprises -- a two-car-team -- are ongoing, but have stalled. My guess is that this is because Petty Enterprises is still a fiercely independent outfit. I talked with Kyle Petty last month about the possibility for a merger with another team, and he was adamant about the fact that he didn't want to merge and then suffer contraction, which is what happened earlier this year when Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Ginn Racing, resulting in the dissolution of two teams. Petty Enterprises has a proud legacy to protect, so its understandable that they would be very careful about joining forces with anybody.
However things shake out, things are already looking up for Kahne. And if his team has the resources available that they seem to, I see no reason why he can't return to the Chase in 2008. He had to suffer to get to this point, but the there's light at the end of the tunnel. I can see it.

[Bob Tanner]

They had better have a turnaround. It'd be embarrassing as hell for Ray to be fired by Gillette.

[bears9]

Kasey is a damn good driver, he will be a chaser next year

[lilsexy08]

Kasey have nothing against the guy. Goodie goodie though until what he did recently the creditional thing at the track but I think he will do better next year. Now a Chase contender, yea maybe but not likely.

[Souporscotty]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

They had better have a turnaround. It'd be embarrassing as hell for Ray to be fired by Gillette.

Now THAT'S dang funny!

[PenelopePitStop]

I sure as hell hope Kasey can turn it around. Not because he's "cute", but because I think he is a talented driver and I enjoy watching him.

This year, I've seen Kasey in the run for the win ... top 5 ... then "something" happens.

He has the potential to be a super-star. I hope he achieves that honor!

Ok ... ok ... yes, he's cute! That may be to his detriment with the long-time, die-hard NASCAR fans. BUT ... the media plays into that! Let's check that, shall we? The sponsors are the creators of the commercials with the young girls fawning over him and crashing their cars, and the female police officers having Kasey bend over his car so they can check out his butt.

Kasey is a good driver. Perhaps, someday, a great driver.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

I sure as hell hope Kasey can turn it around. Not because he's "cute", but because I think he is a talented driver and I enjoy watching him.

This year, I've seen Kasey in the run for the win ... top 5 ... then "something" happens.

He has the potential to be a super-star. I hope he achieves that honor!

Ok ... ok ... yes, he's cute! That may be to his detriment with the long-time, die-hard NASCAR fans. BUT ... the media plays into that! Let's check that, shall we? The sponsors are the creators of the commercials with the young girls fawning over him and crashing their cars, and the female police officers having Kasey bend over his car so they can check out his butt.

Kasey is a good driver. Perhaps, someday, a great driver.

yeah, but 'till then let's hope he finds ways to miss the telephone poles by the fireworks stands