The Wednesday night RPM statement that Kasey Kahne was being released from the No. 9 Ford at the team can’t be considered too much of a surprise.
Later Kasey Kahne said on his Twitter page “Just finished testing sprint car in south carolina. Went real well. Sounds like I have lots to do tomorrow!”
On Saturday night Kahne crashed less than halfway into the race at Charlotte, but, the car was repairable and after he declined to climb back into the cockpit he was replaced by JJ Yeley. Kahne claimed he was sick to his stomach and that he threw up and, was therefore too sick to get back into the car.
The crux was a series of brake failures, this one being the second in three races. And worse none of the other leading Ford teams had this problem.
Kasey Kahne was a lame duck at RPM after he signed a deal with Rick Hendrick for 2012. But it was not until this summer that his deal to drive for Team Red Bull in 2011 was announced.
As the summer wore on it became apparent that the chemistry, which once existed, between Kahne and the team which had merged with Ray Evernham’s was gone.
Going back further in time, Ray Evernham had been a mentor to Kahne in the same manner he’d been with a young Jeff Gordon. Evernham sold his interest to George Gillett. When that team had financial issues it merged with Richard Petty becoming RPM (Richard Petty Motorsports).
The irony was that Evernham had originally signed Kahne away from Ford. Ford sued and lost. Now Kahne has been racing in Fords due to all of the mergers.
Evernham, now a television analyst, said earlier this week that Kahne had nothing to apologize for.
RPM announced that Aric Almirola, who had been slated to drive the Red Bull No. 83, would replace Kahne at Martinsville, but the driver for the remaining four races is to be determined.
This leaves the seat in the No. 83 open and available for Kahne who is likely to run it in the final five races.
There could be a further musical chairs aspect to this latest development as RPM has slated Australia’s Marcos Ambrose to drive the No. 9 next year. With Kahne gone Ambrose might want to wrap up his deal with JTG-Daugherty Racing to get some seat time with his future team.
Later Kasey Kahne said on his Twitter page “Just finished testing sprint car in south carolina. Went real well. Sounds like I have lots to do tomorrow!”
On Saturday night Kahne crashed less than halfway into the race at Charlotte, but, the car was repairable and after he declined to climb back into the cockpit he was replaced by JJ Yeley. Kahne claimed he was sick to his stomach and that he threw up and, was therefore too sick to get back into the car.
The crux was a series of brake failures, this one being the second in three races. And worse none of the other leading Ford teams had this problem.
Kasey Kahne was a lame duck at RPM after he signed a deal with Rick Hendrick for 2012. But it was not until this summer that his deal to drive for Team Red Bull in 2011 was announced.
As the summer wore on it became apparent that the chemistry, which once existed, between Kahne and the team which had merged with Ray Evernham’s was gone.
Going back further in time, Ray Evernham had been a mentor to Kahne in the same manner he’d been with a young Jeff Gordon. Evernham sold his interest to George Gillett. When that team had financial issues it merged with Richard Petty becoming RPM (Richard Petty Motorsports).
The irony was that Evernham had originally signed Kahne away from Ford. Ford sued and lost. Now Kahne has been racing in Fords due to all of the mergers.
Evernham, now a television analyst, said earlier this week that Kahne had nothing to apologize for.
RPM announced that Aric Almirola, who had been slated to drive the Red Bull No. 83, would replace Kahne at Martinsville, but the driver for the remaining four races is to be determined.
This leaves the seat in the No. 83 open and available for Kahne who is likely to run it in the final five races.
There could be a further musical chairs aspect to this latest development as RPM has slated Australia’s Marcos Ambrose to drive the No. 9 next year. With Kahne gone Ambrose might want to wrap up his deal with JTG-Daugherty Racing to get some seat time with his future team.