BRISTOL, Tenn. – With his son Tanner on his lap, Kasey Kahne opened up on Friday morning at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway about his decision to retire from full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2018 season.
“It has been on my mind for a while,” said Kahne regarding his impending retirement. “Truthfully, the last two years at Hendrick and then the year here at LFR (Leavine Family Racing) just like as far as competition, I haven’t been as competitive as what I want to be.
“So, I would say over the last three, four months it’s started being on my mind, like man, do I need to find other things to do and think of other things to do. I just finally made that decision.”
Even with offers on the table to drive for other organizations or returning to the No. 95 Levine Family Racing Chevrolet next season, Kahne insisted that even with a financial cushion available for next year, his commitment level would be less than 100 percent.
“Yeah, I mean that was one part of it was the money side,” Kahne said. “I had some neat opportunities with Leavine. We were working together for the season and it was going to keep getting better. There was money there, there were a few other offers that I had received over the last month and just options that we could talk about, things like that.
“It felt really good to have that, but at the same time it wasn’t necessarily about that anymore and I didn’t feel that I could seriously race all of next year and be completely committed 100 percent and I feel like there are guys out there that can be and that should have those opportunities over me at this point in time because I don’t feel like I can be that guy from this point on.”
After being replaced at Hendrick Motorsports by reigning Xfinity Series champion William Byron, Kahne has remained under contract from Hendrick Motorsports this season and while he could have walked away following the 2017 season, Kahne said he was up for the challenge at driving for LFR.
“Yeah, I mean I thought this year with a new team kind of a new outlook, small team, that opportunity that Bob Leavine gave me that was exciting to me going into the season,” Kahne insisted. “At the end of last year, it was actually kind of mid-August when we first started talking and it was going to be fresh, new, something different. It was exciting to me, so I wanted to give it one more shot with a different group and a different company and I did that.
“We have had some success this year, we have also had races where we all wanted them to be better and then we have had some races that weren’t good at all. But the successful days make me happy on Monday and excited to come back for that next race.
“But I just kind of ran out of that anymore, like I am just happy to finish these final 12 the best that we can and enjoy it with the guys and try to get some good results and then do something a little different after that.”
With Kahne out, he said he told the executives at LFR that he would be involved in any way he can on his successor and if they wanted his input on a replacement, he’d be happy to oblige.
“I’ve told them I’d love to help or give advice or anything I could. I see a few guys out there that could probably fill that spot and do a really nice job. I also have a great relationship with the sponsors that we’ve built this year and that they were building when I got into the car.
“And it would be great to keep those relationships going as well. So yeah, I’m all in to help the No. 95 and be part of that team any way that I can as they transition to what they’re going to do next year.”
So, what’s next?
Kahne says retirement from full-time NASCAR racing will include spending time with Tanner, building his dirt team Kasey Kahne Racing – while also racing on the dirt himself.
“I actually get so much time with Tanner and that is one thing, I saw people say you will get more now and I will, but I get a ton of time with Tanner, but it will just be different time now,” he explained. “It’s not always going to be on the weekdays, now it can be on the weekends.
“We can go to a football game, we can go to a baseball game, just do things and not be completely thinking about racing while I’m with him or while I’m at a dinner or so many different things that go on throughout a week or a year.”
As for Kasey Kahne Racing, he won’t race full-time but will be a constant face in the pit area.
“I feel like I could see myself doing 40 or 50 Sprint Car races next year,” he said. “Not a full deal because that doesn’t do me much good for backing off a bit. But you can do 40 or 50 races in about three months in that deal and still have eight or nine months to do other things.
“Yeah, I think we can have fun in Sprint Car racing, for sure; and then also have some business opportunities down the road.”
Kahne expressed his love and appreciation for NASCAR Friday morning. And while his Twitter statement read Thursday morning that he’ll retire from full-time Cup racing, the 38-year-old isn’t discounting competing in a race from time to time – if it’s the right opportunity.
“I love NASCAR to me it’s been such a big part of my life and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it,” sounded Kahne.
“I feel like I can still go out and win races and be competitive. Why be completely done if there is an opportunity to do a couple of races, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard, or whatever it may be; or maybe never drive another Cup car after Homestead. I’m not sure.
“But, I still love racing. I know I’m going to be a big part of racing from here on out. I’ll still be around. Yeah, if I can help out at some point, I’d love to get in the car probably and still do some driving.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
