Kahne to Hendrick in 2011

[Giants02122]

Blah that's boring.  I want him to go to real Hendrick not SHR.  candy reporting to say he's going to Hendrick and then have him go to a "satellite team."

If the contract is with Hendrick then it's not crap reporting.

What the deal might be is similar to the Martin/McMurray deal. Remember Mark was going to retire in 2005, but then Kurt Busch got a deal to replace Rusty Wallace in the #2 and Jack asked Mark to return in 2006 to allow McMurray to replace Kurt and then we all know what happened from there.

I'm wondering if Rick has a heads up from Jeff or Mark that 2011 might be their last season. Maybe that's why Kahne is under contract and might be housed at SHR for 2011 and then brought into the stable in 2012. Or, as others have stated, Jr. could very well be getting booted.

[Giants02122]

Although. The way some of this is reading is that Hendrick is throwing Mark to the curb for Kahne, which is highly stupid. I get that Kasey is 30 years old, but COME ON! Go Daddy is on the #5 for 20 races in 2011, and I think CarQuest and Delphi both have deals for 2011 too. Rick has made some bone headed moves before (ie. signing Casey Mears, letting Kyle Busch go for Dale Jr, etc.) but cutting Mark Martin for Kasey Kahne is the utmost bone headed move ever. Mark hasn't had a great start in 2010, we all know that, but he's what, 11 points out of the chase? This time last season he couldn't SNIFF the chase if he wanted too.

What does the man have to do? Beat Jimmie Johnson?

Maybe we all should go smoke what Rick Hendrick is smoking, because this is going to go down as the dumbest thing that Rick Hendrick has ever done. EVER. And as I said, he's done some bone headed moves.

Sorry... Had to vent. 

[dak]

We've put up a poll, so make sure to vote where Kahne will actually end up: http://www.thehotlap.com/

[Giants02122]

We've put up a poll, so make sure to vote where Kahne will actually end up: http://www.thehotlap.com/

One vote for Kahne in the #24 coming up!

[Captain Slow]

What if Martin has a deal to go back to the 6 car and is leaving on his own?

Okay fine that's not happening.

Blah that's boring.  I want him to go to real Hendrick not SHR.  candy reporting to say he's going to Hendrick and then have him go to a "satellite team."

If the contract is with Hendrick then it's not crap reporting.

But I don't read articles, just headlines.  How would you expect me to know that?

[Dirt13]

Hi Giants...overreact much?

Worst move ever?

I get that u like Martin, and it sucks he may be out (all speculation, so chill) but a dumb move? Worst ever? Boneheaded?

I'd actually argue its not even a bad move vs worst move of all time. You're getting a proven winner to replace a proven winner. You're getting a championship contender replacing a championship contender. You're getting a driver that appeals to a larger demographic (the entire female gender) than at present. You're getting a driver that will be in the sport for 25+ more years versus 5 max.

[MichaelCMTX]

It would just be terribly beneath me to say this would finally give Hendrick a driver gayer than Gordon and Johnson combined, so I won't stoop that low.

Nobody's looking at the other side of this.  Interesting that this and George Gillett being in default of his loan agreement for Richard Petty Motorsports both hit the wires the same day.  Is another high profile team implosion on the horizon?  If RPM continues, who goes to the 9?  Does Bud stay there?

Between this, Bires, Bliss, Almirola and JWT's meeting today, we surely don't lack for topics.

[Giants02122]

Hi Giants...overreact much?

Worst move ever?

I get that u like Martin, and it sucks he may be out (all speculation, so chill) but a dumb move? Worst ever? Boneheaded?

I'd actually argue its not even a bad move vs worst move of all time. You're getting a proven winner to replace a proven winner. You're getting a championship contender replacing a championship contender. You're getting a driver that appeals to a larger demographic (the entire female gender) than at present. You're getting a driver that will be in the sport for 25+ more years versus 5 max.

Well you are right. I'm a huge Martin fan. I agree that Kahne's longevity might be a huge reason to why he might be replacing Mark, but still. The man is a legend and unlike other near 50 year old drivers, he's still better than half the people he competes against on a given Sunday.

I know Mark can still wheel a car, there's no reason to get rid of him. You don't finish second in the championship to Jimmie Johnson without being a heck of a driver.

I know that if Mark was released, he'd find a seat somewhere, but he might never have that opportunity that he's been given at Hendrick to finally win that coveted Sprint Cup (not that he feels he needs to do it, he doesn't have to, but I'm sure he'd love to win one).

I just hope there a lot more to the story that isn't being reported right now.

[Dirt13]

See? That's a perfectly logical, reasonable, and well thought out post G man. Shoulda been your first one

[Giants02122]

See? That's a perfectly logical, reasonable, and well thought out post G man. Shoulda been your first one

I pulled an Eric on that one. My blind loyality (yes the spelling error is intentional) to Mark Martin came out there... 

[stuckeymotorsports]

Another website is reporting it's the 5 and RPM has already told it's employees Kahne won't be returning next year.

[Bhester]

The latest tweets say Kahne will be in the 5 in 2012.

[Giants02122]

Lee Spencer on Fox Sports is saying Kahne to Stewart Haas in 2011, with Budweiser.

No word on what happens after that with that particular article.

DW said it's too early to tell who's out at Hendrick, via twitter.


I say, let's let the cards fall where they may. It appears that Hendrick is willing to allow Mark to finish out his contract in 2011, and then after that he'll have to find another seat, which would probably had been the case had Keselowski stayed with JR Motorsports and not jumped to Penske.

I also have a hunch that this Kahne to Hendrick deal might have a lot of legs we don't know about. Could it be that Mark has told Rick that he was approached by another car owner to drive a car in 2011 and has asked for his release?

Don't forget Harvick and RCR haven't renewed yet, and if Harvick and Stewart are teamming up if Kahne ends up at HMS, then there might be an opening at RCR that might just land Mark in the #29 for a few seasons. Also, Richard Petty Motorsports will have an interesting opening at the #9 in 2011 that might be up Mark's alley. He could develop Menard (who he worked with at DEI) and Allmendinger. Mark likes helping the young guys out so RPM could be a good place.

Another thing I'm thinking of is Joe Gibbs Racing. JGR wants a fourth team right? If Mark's available, I think that might be a nice option for him.

[DodgeMotorsports]

jimmy please retire!

[Nascarfan977]

This is the best news I have heard in a long time. Im a big HMS fan and a big fan of Kasey Kahne. This just made my day right here