To truly succeed, Kahne needs a change
DOVER, Del. – Right now, there's only guessing how good Kasey Kahne is. There's no knowing because strapped to his bumper every weekend is a ball and chain with a Richard Petty Motorsports logo on it.
The fact that Kahne made the Chase (while his three teammates sit 25th, 26th and 28th in the standings) is a credit to him, to crew chief Kenny Francis and to the rest of the No. 9 team. But Kahne didn't have a shot at winning the title even before his engine blew up in last weekend's playoff opener at New Hampshire.
He doesn't have the speed, the equipment or the team backing to compete against the big boys over at Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing, which is why most observers believe 2010 will be Kahne's last with RPM.
"We've done a really nice job for what we've been given," said Kahne, who goes into Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway sitting 12th in the standings, 161 points back of Mark Martin. "But I feel like I have a lot more to accomplish and a lot more to do before I am done in the Cup series."
If there ever was an athlete who'd be justified in commanding a trade, it's Kahne. A year after he won a series-high six races in 2006, Ray Evernham got an offer for the team from billionaire George Gillett that he couldn't refuse. Gillett's deep pockets were expected to bring organizational stability to a cash-strapped Dodge team. But with Evernham out of the picture, the organization has floundered.
In two-plus seasons, Gillett and his money have produced one lawsuit filed by its own driver, two mergers thrown together out of sheer desperation, both of which add up to the team now rivaling the Oakland Raiders in terms of organizational chaos.
The only thing the partnership with Petty Enterprises has produced is two mostly hollow trips to Victory Lane for Richard Petty, while the latest move, the pending merge with Yates Racing that will take effect in 2010, left even the organization's star driver unsure of whom to turn to for answers.
Last week, Kahne was asked who the go-to guy is at RPM. Presumably the answer would be Gillett's son, Foster, who had been put in control of day-to-day operations. But in a moment of awkwardness that revealed how unstable things are at RPM, Kahne said this: "You can't get anything out of Foster. So it's hard to say who that is, and I think that's because we're in a lot of different things right now. But when you're in things, you still need to keep your team and your guys, your company behind you knowing what's going on, and we don't have that."
Next season's merger with Yates will align RPM with Roush Fenway Racing, which, conceivably, should provide the team with better equipment. Not that that will keep Kahne off the free-agent market.
Even though Kahne said he will honor his contract with RPM through 2010, questions about his future place of employment will follow him all season long. And he certainly will have options. Tony Stewart is looking to field a third car, possibly as early as 2011. Joe Gibbs Racing could expand to a fourth car. And Red Bull could add a third team or possibly part ways with Scott Speed, either of which would make room for Kahne.
When asked if he feels he can reach his potential at RPM, Kahne said, "I don't know. That's why RPM is looking into doing different things so they can keep building it up so we can reach the goals that they want and that I want. … But I feel like 11 wins is not nearly enough after 5 ½ years of racing in the Cup series."
Kahne is being diplomatic. At the very least, he must be curious – curious to find out "what if." What if he drove cars as good as Jimmie Johnson's? How many titles would he win? Unless he goes elsewhere, we'll never know.
