What's wrong with Kahne this year?

[F1boat]

Last year he was very fast and a regular winner. What happened? I am curious and a bit sad, I became a fan, especially after he won Coca-Cola 600.

[Jonesi]

The "improved" front end for the CoY Dodges, didn't work right. Evernham is behind on developing the CoT, and he's been a little unlucky this year. (Also Ford & Dodge put off updating their cyl heads until next year, Chevy didn't and clearly have a hp advantage.)

[wbcobrar]

I remember a quote from Evermham around the time Rousch became Rousch/Fenway . The article was discussing how at the time when dollars coming in from the auto makers was declining , the money required to be a top cup team ( in spite of CoT's supposed purpose ,) was going way up . Ray said something like , well if they want to get into a money burning contest I'll lose every time . I guess he was correct .

[BobbyC]

OTOH, the Chevrolet teams have been doing their homework, and just dominating with plain old work. While everyone else has complained, they just rolled up their sleeves, did the R07, and raced.

[table]

Don't forget that at the first race of the year Nascar caught the drilled out bolts that let their cars have more downforce. I'm sure that was an advantage for them last year and they've lost it now.

[Jonesi]

Don't forget that at the first race of the year Nascar caught the drilled out bolts that let their cars have more downforce. I'm sure that was an advantage for them last year and they've lost it now.

That would have been a slight advantage only at the very fastest tracks (and only during qualifing in the case of the #10 & #19 cars.)

[F1boat]

So it's the car and not the driver?
Sorry, if I ask stupid questions, I am just curious.

[blakebeatty]

It definately comes down to the fact that they had the aero balance figured out to perfection with the 2006 Charger nose and have yet to do the same with the 2007 charger nose.

other dodge teams have been front runners all year, perhaps challenging for wins. I don't think that it comes down to engines for Dodge (perhaps for ford however - see Biffle's complaints about Sonoma) Newman has had some success qualifying, as well as Busch

[Smilieangel489]

He is definitely in the rumor mill for leaving EMS...http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6980108 and it looks like he has a nice little clause in his contract.

[F1boat]

I hope that he'll be in competitive car soon!

[blakebeatty]

Lots of talk and no action in this silly season, but there are many huge drivers that are rumored to be upset and perhaps on the move, including Elliot Sadler, Kasey Kahne, Biffle, and Ryan Newman. Also possibly Paul Menard.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Kahne is just fine with a competitive car under him. Problem is, Evernham is short on dough apparently.

As for the Chevy teams doing their homework and NOT whining, funny, they used to whine when Fords would win. Just like Ford teams whined when Chevy was allowed the wide rear end on the Monte Carlo when it first came out...I find Chevy teams just whine more effectively....

That said, they did their engine work this year, and THAT is the main reason they have been killing everyone......

[dont_be_jack]

Kahne is just fine with a competitive car under him. Problem is, Evernham is short on dough apparently.

As for the Chevy teams doing their homework and NOT whining, funny, they used to whine when Fords would win. Just like Ford teams whined when Chevy was allowed the wide rear end on the Monte Carlo when it first came out...I find Chevy teams just whine more effectively....

That said, they did their engine work this year, and THAT is the main reason they have been killing everyone......

Not only that, but a lot of the Chevy teams have all worked together this season to keep on getting better. They knew that Toyota was coming in and wanted to make sure that they were good enough to keep on top of the series. They've all been working together on the new engine and it's showing that they are doing quite well with it.

Also, it doesn't hurt when Hendrick has some satellite teams that get great equipment and can try out new things to see if they work.

[muggle not]

How about this scenario:

LOUDON, N.H. - This Bud could be for Kasey Kahne.
Lee Spencer
With Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving at the end of the season to drive for Rick Hendrick, that opens the door for Kahne at Dale Earnhardt Inc. There's not another driver in the garage who could match Earnhardt's Q Score, but when it comes to hot Nextel Cup properties, Kahne isn't too far behind. Kahne would easily transition into the Budweiser's advertising campaign.
The potential of the 26-year-old on and off the track is limitless, but this year Kahne has been struggling at Evernham Motorsports. After a phenomenal season in 2006, Kahne is currently 28th in points and hasn't visited Victory Lane since last fall at Lowe's Motor Speedway — 20 races ago. In 16 starts, Kahne has just one top-10 — a seventh-place finish at Daytona.

His Evernham teammate Elliott Sadler is currently 21st in points, but Scott Riggs, whose car is under the EMS roof but owned by James Rocco, entered the weekend 36th in points. Riggs missed his third race after failing to qualify for the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire.

According to sources, Kahne has a clause in his contract that would enable him to leave Evernham Motorsports if a change in ownership occurs. Introducing Montreal Canadians owner George Gillett into the EMS partnership could provide Kahne with the out for which he's searching. Kahne's legal counsel offered a "no comment" when asked whether the driver had asked for his release.

DEI is on an upswing. Martin Truex Jr. won his first race this season and both he and Earnhardt currently sit in the top 12 in the point standings — the qualification zone for the Chase to the Nextel Cup. DEI recently entered into an engine partnership with Richard Childress Racing that will reap rewards for both organizations.

With the new management team at DEI and the myriad of opportunities afforded the drivers from a marketing standpoint compounded by president Max Siegel's history in the music business, Kahne's career could rocket.



"Kasey's a good guy," Truex said. "The coolest thing that we have going for us right now is we genuinely want each other to run well. Junior, Paul (Menard) and I all get along really well together. We really support each other. With Junior moving on the biggest thing is that whatever driver comes in he'd have to get along with me and Paul. But I think Kasey would be a good fit."

At 26, Kahne is well-polished and could easily transition into numerous marketing categories. In 125 starts, Kahne has seven wins, 13 poles, 30 top-10s and 42 top-fives. After three full seasons, his best finish in the point standings was eighth place last year.

Budweiser has been a primary sponsor at DEI since Earnhardt debuted on the Cup tour in 1999. A connection with Kahne could be a win-win for everyone involved.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Kahne to DEI might just make Theresa Earnhardt look smarter than she is.......

I kind of hope not though....I have always admired Ray Evernham (except for this Crocker thing) and want to see him succeed. I feel Kahne is a potential champion for sure, and would hate to see him jump...

[tstran17_88]

Kahne has denied reported rumors he wants out of his contract with Evernham to go negotiate with DEI. Using the reverse logic that consumes NASCAR, it may be a done deal.