Hendrick Motorsports has announced that driver Kasey Kahne has signed an extension contract that will keep him in the #5 car through the end of 2018. The news comes following Kahne’s worse season during his 3 year tenure with Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne captured just 1 victory in 2014 and posted just 3 top 5 finishes marking the least amount of top 5 finishes for Kahne since 2007.
Through 3 seasons with HMS, Kahne has recorded 5 victories and 26 top 5 finishes. Most importantly Kahne has earned a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup in each of his 3 years with the organization. Despite a rather poor season in 2014, the #5 team has plenty of optimism heading into 2015 with Keith Todden coming on board as the new crew chief from Chip Ganassi Racing.
Perhaps the biggest dilemma that is raised by Kahne’s extension is the future of Nationwide Series Champion and young sensation Chase Elliot. Elliot became the youngest NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion in the history of the sport this year at the ripe age of 18. Elliot had already announced his intentions to return to another full year of Nationwide Series competition in 2015.
However many expected that Elliot would take over the #5 car after 2015 as Kahne’s contract was previously set to expire. As most are aware, Elliot drives the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet for JR Motorsports which is equipment that comes straight from Hendrick Motorsports. Therefore Elliot’s predicted move to Hendrick seemed most probable especially with the #5 car’s performance declining in 2014. Instead Kahne’s extension puts some uncertainty around Elliot’s future, at least with Hendrick Motorsports, unless Jeff Gordon calls it a career at the end of 2015. Jeff Gordon retirement rumors have loomed for the last few seasons but after nearly winning a Championship this past season that move appears highly unlikely as well. Therefore let the Chase Elliot future speculation begin.