Top 35 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: No. 10 - Kasey Kahne
Richard Petty Motorsports' Kasey Kahne won two races during the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. // Bill Anderson, NASCAR Scene
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Richard Petty Motorsports' Kasey Kahne found himself challenged to remain focused despite a series of distractions throughout the course of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Fresh off an offseason merger between Kahne's Gillett Evernham Motorsports organization and Petty Enterprises, the driver started the year well but then had to overcome a stretch in which he posted a top finish of 13th, and five of 19th or worse, beginning with the season's sixth race. He did so in solid style and collected race wins in June and September.
Then, just as Kahne returned to the Chase For The Sprint Cup for the first time since 2006, RPM announced plans for another merger, this time with Yates Racing, and a shift to Fords for the 2010 season.
With the 10-race championship run under way, Kahne faced a series of questions about potential changes in his team, the leadership of it and his history with Ford, which included a dispute over his contract when he moved from Fords to his current team in 2004.
The driver and his Kenny Francis-led team seemed to hold up well under the pressure, however. Kahne had four top-10 finishes during the 10-race Chase before finishing 10th in the final standings.
The 29-year-old native of Enumclaw, Wash., earned $5,760,136 in purses in 2009.
During the offseason, SceneDaily is taking a look at the top 35 in 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points. Here’s how Kahne’s season unfolded:
By the numbers: Kahne won two races this season, just as he did in 2008. He earned 14 top-10 finishes this season, seven of them top-fives, and had two DNFs.
Season highlights: Kahne surprised the competition, and perhaps even himself, with his win on the Infineon Raceway road course in California in June. That victory put team co-owner Richard Petty in victory lane for the first time since April 18, 1999. Kahne won again at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September, two races before the Chase began, to move from 11th to sixth in the standings.
Key setbacks: Kahne endured a trio of races in which he finished 36th (Talladega), 29th (Richmond) and 23rd (Darlington). He battled back into contention for a Chase berth but failed to lock into the field early thanks to a 28th-place finish at Bristol, which dropped him to 11th in the standings with two races to go before the championship-determining field was set.
Newsworthy moments: Kahne's team changed its name to Richard Petty Motorsports following a preseason merger with the former Petty Enterprises. It then announced plans to make another shift by virtue or a proposed merger with Yates Racing and move to Fords next season. Kahne is planning to test a Ford in December, though the teams have not announced that the merger has been finalized.
In his words: "I’m proud of all my guys. We made the Chase, finished 10th in points and were able to win two races. We got our first road-course win and ran strong throughout the season. Kenny and the guys did a great job all season. I just want to thank everyone at Budweiser and Dodge and all sponsors for their support."
