Kasey Kahne had a quiet season in 2010, he just was hanging around, going with the flow. He not a part of any drama, or a main story line. We all know, absolutely nothing happened with Kasey Kahne in the 2010 season. Oh wait...something little happened didn't it?
Kasey Kahne made the biggest headline of the 2010 season, when he announced his departure from Richard Petty Motorsports, (formally Gillette Evernham Motorsports...) (formally Evernham Motorsports...hummm and they wonder why he left?). Kasey had no intentions in announcing the departure so early in the season, but on of NASCARs more popular media members found out about the situation, and leaked it to the rest of NASCAR nation. Kahne stepped up, and announced not only his departure, but what he will be doing in the 2012 season. Kahne will be stepping into the #5 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, displacing Mark Martin. But wait...what about 2011? At the time of the Hendrick announcement, no one knew. Rick Hendrick told Sirius radio that he was "working on it" at the time that Kasey signed on. Kasey put all of his marbles in Rick's basket, and Rick was going to have to decide which team to send him off to in 2011 season.
Months went by, and Kasey would be up one week, and down the next with RPM. In the late summer, Rick and Kasey finally announced that Kasey would be heading to Red Bull Racing for the 2011 season, and would be teammates, with Brian Vickers, who at the time was on a medical leave of absence. Kasey was pleased with this placing for the 2011 season, and so was Red Bull Racing. But neither group expected what would happen next.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stayed at home for week five of the Chase to the Championship, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kasey went into this race with excitement, since Charlotte is one of his best tracks. This race wouldn't have any happy memories though. Kasey had a horrific car all day, and was given no brakes at all. He eventually wreaked, due to the lack of brakes. Kasey was disgusted with how bad the car was, not to mention, on top of that, he had the stomach flu. Kasey refused to get back in the car, not only because he was sick, but he wasn't going to drive that bad of a car. Then, an undisclosed crew member insulted Kasey, questioning his commitment to the team. That was the last straw for Kasey. Kasey left the track and went home.
That Wednesday, RPM announced that Kasey was leaving the team. Kasey was ecstatic. Kasey moved on to Red Bull Racing five races earlier, pulling off better results better than he had done all season in the #9 Budweiser Ford.
This season, I think with Kasey's boosted confidence, and the lack of pressure on his shoulders will allow him to do well. I think Kasey will pull off 7th in points, and win 4 or 5 races, just like his Red Bull Racing teammate Brian Vickers. Again, just like Brian, Kasey doesn't have the best luck, so I think that a few crashes will take away his chance at the Cup, but I think for being at the team for one season, Kasey will be very successful at Red Bull Racing.
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