My biggest question is when are people going to let the whole Kasey Kahne going to Hendrick Motorsports issue drop? It's been roughly 4 month since they announced that he would be joining some of the greatest drivers in NASCAR, (in my own opinion of course), instead of staying at that sinking ship known by many as Richard Petty Motorsports.
I'm not putting RPM down, but let's face it people, the only reason they haven't sank completely is because of Kasey Kahne and the whole 9 team. Although, if you watch Inside NASCAR on Showtime, you'll see where Kasey Kahne doesn't take the credit for himself, he gives it to his crew chief, Kenny Francis. I have to disagree with him there, because a crew chief can only make a car so good, however you have to be the one to be able to drive the car, smart and safe to the finish line, and not get caught up in AJ's disasters. However on with the point of this.
You can call Kasey Kahne a traitor, but let's take a look at these few facts.
1.) Kasey has filled all of his contractual obligations to not only Richard Petty Motorsports, but to Budweiser. So therefore, after the race at Homestead Miami Speedway, Kasey Kahne would have been a free agent, had Rick Hendrick not signed him.
2.) Richard Petty and the others at RPM knew that his contract was up at the end of this year, why didn't they step up their game, give him better faster cars, capable of actually winning a race. There were a few times where yes they should have won, but in the end, they didn't, and to him winning is all that matters. Instead, they were focused on the whole 43 team, including AJ, probably because they figured Kasey was already out the door. It's no ones fault but theirs.
3.) The lack of organization at RPM isn't helping either. Within the 5 years that he has been with Richard Petty Motorsports, they have been, Gillette Evernham, and then it was RPM, and then RPM merged with Yates racing, kicked Reed out, and move Menard in, bad choice in my opinion. Menard had a strong beginning to the season, but quickly fell off.
Have you thought that maybe Kasey got sick and tired of being expected to, carry the rest of the drivers, because let's face it, none of the other ones are that good. They put their best driver in crap equipment and expect him to win. For example, Dover, he was bad fast, started outside pole, led the first 23 laps, and then his shifter broke. BROKE, during a race! He would have won that race, had that not happened.
Another driver leaving the RPM stable, Elliott Sadler, as much as I like Elliott, I just don't think he's that good of a driver, but then again what can you expect? Ever since the 43 was brought back to cup, that's the only car they give a damn about, and the only reason they have Menard, is because his Dad brings his sponsorship, so hell why not take that, one less thing you have to worry about. But, you never hear people calling Elliott a traitor, and yet, you do for Kasey.
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Richard Petty Motorsports, claim to stand behind their drivers. I'm more inclined to believe their one driver, because if you go on their facebook page, you'll see that whenever someone says something negative about Kasey Kahne, it's never deleted. Say something negative about AJ, and it does? So again I ask, are you really surprised that Kasey's leaving? You can't just shove one driver to the back burner because he's leaving. You would think that you'd step up your game a little bit to show them what they are going to be missing when they do leave.
I'll just say this again in case someone doesn't really know how I feel about Kasey Kahne, I personally feel that he is the best driver out there, and when he gets into HMS equipment you're going to see him shine like the star that he is, you'll see him be the next Jimmie Johnson, mark my words, you can call him names, and say whatever you want to about him, but I will defend him, to no end. I'm a real fan. I know many of the other Kasey Kahne fans out there will agree with me. I personally don't care if he finishes last every race, he'll always be the best in my opinion. I'm proud to call my self a Kasey Kahne fan, regardless of who he drives for. He's not out for blood like some of the other drivers are.
I don't know about anyone else, but nothing is going to change my mind about that.
