Kasey Kahne Confirmed by Richard Childress Racing for Rockingham on April 19th
In an announcement on January 24, Richard Childress Racing confirmed that Kasey Kahne would run with the team for the first time since 2018. The 44-year-old has run in the Craftsman Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series with RCR and brings with him 529 race starts, 5 Craftsman wins, 8 Xfinity wins, and 18 cup wins. Kahne is set to pilot the No. 33 Hendrick Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series’ North Carolina Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham. The 250-lap event, which will take place on April 19, is the first time the event has been hosted at the track since 2012.
The NASCAR veteran is eager to return to the wheel, especially on a track that means so much to him. “I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a stock car, especially at a place like Rockingham Speedway,” said Kahne. “Rockingham has been a special track throughout my career,” he added. He also recalled winning a Craftsman race in NASCAR’s final year at the track in 2012 and how special it was for him. To be making his NASCAR return at the track where he ended his career with a win is history in the making, and Kasey Kahne is more than ready to start again.
Why Richard Childress Brought Back Kasey Kahne
When it was decided that Kasey Kahne would come out of retirement, Richard Childress jumped at the opportunity to reinstate him. Kahne holds an impressive track record with Richard Childress Racing, including multiple wins at Charlotte’s iconic Coca-Cola 600 and a single at Indianapolis. He also amassed 93 top-fives and 176 top-tens and was added to the list of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers with greats like Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Jr. Therefore, it really wasn’t surprising when owner Richard Childress sought him to return to his team.
Childress spoke of his excitement in having him back on board to join the team’s lineup, including Austin Hill and Jesse Love. “Kasey is a great driver and a fierce competitor,” explained RCR owner Richard Childress. “Our Xfinity Series program is top-notch, and we look forward to watching Kasey race with Austin Hill and Jesse Love for an exciting return to Rockingham Speedway.” “With Kasey behind the wheel, we expect the No. 33 to have a shot at winning the race,” he added. Is he what the team needs to run an impeccable race on April 19? Team Partner Rick Hendrick sure thinks so.
Leading up to Rockingham
Ahead of Rockingham Speedway, Rick Hendrick, CEO of Hendrick Motorsports, is speaking out about his feelings on Kasey Kahne’s return. He’s thoroughly convinced that Kahne has a chance to win and didn’t hesitate to team up with RCR when asked to become a partner. Hendrick explained that he was excited to see Kasey Kahne return to NASCAR and doted on his talents. “Kasey is a great friend and an incredibly talented driver, and we’re proud to have HendrickCars.com on board with him at Rockingham,” Hendrick stated.
Kahne seems just proud to be a part of the partnership with Hendrick, expressing his esteemed gratitude for the opportunity. “Very appreciative of the opportunity that Mr. Hendrick, Richard Childress, and everyone at RCR have given me along with the support of HendrickCars.com, Chevrolet, Curb Records, and Karavan Trailers,” “I look forward to hitting the track next week for the test,” he said. The test will take place on Tuesday, January 28.
Final Thoughts
According to Richard Childress Racing CEO Richard Childress and team partner Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Kasey Kahne still has the stamina to produce wins. In 2024, out of 67 Xfinity Series Races, the RCR team only secured five wins, 18 top-fives, 39 top-tens, an average start of 9.0, and a finish of 11.7. The hope is that Kasey Kahne can change that, and with his track record of 18 previous wins with the team, there’s a high probability of this happening. Will he be the anecdote for RCR’s future success?
