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Showing posts with label Hendrick Motorsports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hendrick Motorsports. Show all posts

Friday, November 26, 2010

Hendrick Motorsports announces changes for 2011

Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR
Junior Nation has been waiting a long time to hear this: Lance McGrew and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are parting ways.

On Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, Hendrick Motorsports announced the changes made for next season. Crew chiefs are being shuffled around as are garages. Although Jimmie Johnson and the #48 team have won a lot of races as well as their five Sprint Cup championships, the rest of his teammates have not won a single race this past season. Rick Hendrick, owner of the Hendrick Motorsports team and 10-time owners' champion, spoke with reporters on a telephone conference Wednesday morning. He mentioned that the idea to make the following changes started after the Texas race.

Steve Letarte will now be Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief and the #88 team will now be working with team #48’s garage. The seven-time winner of the Most Popular Driver award, Earnhardt Jr. hasn't won a race in two seasons nor has he made the Chase these past two years. He finished the 2010 season 21st in points.

Personally, I believe this will be a positive change for Earnhardt Jr. He does not need a nanny (as Terry Blount, senior writer for ESPN.com mentioned in his article) but Letarte’s optimistic personality along with Earnhardt’s boyish charm and humor will be a good mix, and Earnhardt Jr. will be in very strong hands. Both Letarte and Earnhardt Jr. are people persons, and Letarte's biggest strength is helping his driver find their confidence again.

Letarte told reporters that he is excited and proud to take on the task; you can see his comment in a video as well as his introductory video which can be found here.

Earnhardt Jr. also issued a statement on his website, DaleJr.com:

"Rick Hendrick is someone I trust wholeheartedly, and any decision he makes inside or outside his organization is something I support. He is a 10-time champion owner, and that speaks directly to his ability to lead. I am committed to give Steve Letarte and the new team 100% of my effort. I spoke with Steve last night, and his enthusiasm really pumped me up to the point I wish we were going to the track this weekend. I really enjoyed working with Lance (McGrew), and I want to thank him and everyone on that team for their hard work. I've had a lot of fun with that group, and we'll continue working together to make all the Hendrick Motorsports teams better."

Todd Warsaw / Getty Images for NASCAR
The #24 team will now be sharing a garage with the #5 team. Jeff Gordon parts ways with Letarte, but Alan Gustafson is now his crew chief. This will be Gordon’s sixth crew chief since the start of his career. Gustafson’s professional manner, engineer intelligence and positive reputation will blend well with Gordon, and Gordon will benefit by sharing a a garage with team #5 and Mark Martin.

Mark Martin will be paired with Lance McGrew. After a successful year in 2009 and a second-place points finish, Martin's 2010 season didn't go nearly as well - he finished 13th in points. Both McGrew and Martin have a professional business mindset, so the pairing could work in their favor.

Five-time Cup champion Johnson will not part ways with crew chief Chad Knaus in 2011. The two have worked well together, winning 53 races since they were paired in 2002, including six victories in 2010.

Sure, the garage will be different but not much: Letarte and Knaus are still working together as will McGrew and Gustafson. The point is to keep Team Hendrick in contention for a championship - not only for Johnson to win, but for his teammates to contend and win as well. It is clear that the Joe Gibbs Racing team has young, talented drivers in the #11, #18 and #20 cars. To stay competitive, Hendrick must make the necessary changes to keep his teams in the running.

In a statement posted on the Hendrick Motorsports website, Hendrick said:


"This will improve us as an organization, across the board. We had a championship season (in 2010), but we weren't where we wanted and needed to be with all four teams. We've made the right adjustments, and I'm excited to go racing with this lineup."

Monday, November 8, 2010

No. 24 and No. 48 teams to swap pit crews for remainder of 2010

The pit crew swap between the No. 24 and No. 48 teams during Sunday's AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will stay in effect for the remainder of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports announced today.

According to a team release, the two teams will trade pit crews for the last two races of the 2010 Sprint Cup season. The release offered few details, but it did specify that the change is limited to the seven primary over-the-wall members of the respective pit crews. The roles of additional team personnel will not be affected.

Hendrick Motorsports will hold a press conference Tuesday at 10 a.m. with crew chiefs Chad Knaus and Steve Letarte to address the swap.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Jeff Gordon to 'Drive to End Hunger' beginning in 2011

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
AARP Foundation's Drive To End Hunger will serve as the No. 24's primary sponsor for 22 races annually from 2011 to 2013
 

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 27, 2010) – Hendrick Motorsports and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon have teamed with AARP and AARP Foundation on the Drive To End Hunger, an unprecedented three-year initiative to address the growing problem of hunger among older Americans, including 6 million over the age of 60.

Drive to End Hunger will be the majority sponsor of Gordon's No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with primary paint schemes in 22 Sprint Cup races annually. The No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, which will be unveiled at a later date, will race in the next three Daytona 500 events.

Since 1992 DuPont has served as the main sponsor of the No. 24, but the company is planning to cut back its investment in 2011. DuPont and Pepsi will return as primary sponsors for select races.

The deal marks the first time a nonprofit has signed on for a primary sponsorship in NASCAR. AARP Foundation President Jo Ann Jenkins said the foundation is planning to find corporate co-sponsors to share the car for all its races.

"This is a truly unique opportunity to help people, and it's a completely new, cause-driven approach to sponsorship," said Gordon, 39, winner of 82 career Sprint Cup races. "Every single day, millions of older Americans are forced to make a choice between food, medicine and utilities. It's going to be a team effort, and it's not going to be easy, but we can solve this problem."

With Gordon as its spokesperson, Drive to End Hunger will help the millions of older Americans who are facing hunger across the United States. The effort will engage the NASCAR fan base, corporations and charitable organizations via a text-to-donate program; activation at racetracks across the country; further research on the causes and consequences of hunger in older Americans; and an innovative national grant program that will provide resources to address the problem at a local level.

Donations from Drive to End Hunger will benefit the hunger programs of AARP Foundation.

"Hunger is a hidden problem that millions of older Americans are battling silently. In fact, between 2006 and 2008, the percentage of seniors struggling with hunger more than doubled," said Jenkins. "NASCAR fans are among the most charitable, community-minded sports fans in the country, and they have a track record of commitment. With the help of Jeff and the Hendrick team, we will make the most of this unprecedented opportunity to end the struggle that so many older Americans have with hunger."

Drive to End Hunger will build on the hunger initiative launched earlier this year by AARP Foundation, including volunteer-led food drives, individual and corporate fundraising campaigns, and online hunger resources at www.aarp.org/hunger.

"It's exciting to see a new organization engage with our sport and our fans through such an innovative approach," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Having seen firsthand what the NASCAR community is capable of accomplishing, I know the program will help a lot of people in our country who desperately need it. Success ultimately will be measured by how many lives we can impact, and that's a truly unique and special opportunity for everyone involved."

For more information, please visit www.DriveToEndHunger.org.

To see what Jeff Gordon has to say about the new initiative, read his blog here.


- Release courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Kasey Kahne and the Frustration of the 2010 Season

















After taking part in his charity 5Kahne, Kasey Kahne addressed the media about not finishing the race Saturday night at Charlotte.

Kasey's brakes had failed around Lap 40. His season full of frustration had not helped, either. This is the third brake issue from an RPM car this year, the second in three weeks. When he was involved in a crash later in the race, Kahne took the car into the garage, got out, and never looked back.

"I was just mad," he said. "I came into the race thinking we had a shot to win. We had a good car in practice. It went green, and I was still a little bit tight, but I passed cars and felt really good and then – boom – my brakes are gone."

Indeed, the nine team had a shot at winning this race. They were first in the second practice and fourth in the final practice. Kasey has an average finish of 11.6 at Charlotte - the best out of the non-chasers.

He said it was a joke that he goes to press the brake, it goes all the way to the floor, and doesn't work. I agree. A failure in brakes in a Sprint Cup car should not happen. It is ridiculous to look back and see that Kasey has had this problem three times this year.

Between Roush-Fenway, who also runs Ford Fusions, and Richard Petty Motorsports, Kahne is the only one who has had this problem.


"And that's a good point, but I've never had any issues in my past six years, and if you look at brakes after race, my brake pads are better (less worn) than any one of the other seven or the same as the best ones who don't use much brake. I don't use much brake. So it's just a mess, really."

When Kasey got out of his car after the crash, an unidentified member of Richard Petty Motorsports accused him of not doing his part. Kasey was mad as would be any sane person. Even I as a fan was outraged. How could a person say such a thing to a man that works his hardest day in and day out?

Kasey made a good point saying, "I can't control that as a driver. I'm doing my part; I just need the car. I work as hard as anybody out there."

On top of all that, Kasey was sick, despite anything that anyone said about him using that as an excuse.

Kasey and Kenny Francis, his crew chief, are headed to Red Bull Racing for 2011, before Kahne heads to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. For this team, the end of the season could not come fast enough.

Think good thoughts for the nine team as they finish out their 2010 season. They tried their hardest and just have not had the luck or equipment.


The views expressed in this post are those of the author and not necessarily those of the site or its administrators.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

""Atta Boy!"

"'Atta Boy!"

That is what I yelled when I was watching qualifying yesterday and Kasey passed the finish line and qualified for the pole. His time of 30.920 completely dominated the qualifying results.
It is so nice to see Kahne, a non-chaser that has clearly had horrible luck all season long, qualify for a pole over all the Chase guys. Even better, his teammate, Paul Menard, is starting right up front with him! I'm sure RPM did not see this coming, because I didn't. An interesting fact, Elliott Sadler, who is also leaving RPM at the end of the season, qualified 15th. Meanwhile, A.J. Allmendinger qualified 30th.



I'm looking forward to next season to see how Kasey performs under a new team. He is a great driver with a great potential to win a lot of races or, even better, a championship. I have a good feeling that Kasey will show all the doubters what he is made of next year at Red Bull Racing and then the year after at Hendrick Motorsports. Especially at Hendrick. With Jimmie Johnson, a driver who has dominated the Sprint Cup series, Dale Earnhardt Jr., the most popular driver, and Jeff Gordon, a driver that came from a background like Kasey's and is a great driver, Hendrick can do no wrong by adding Kasey to the roster.



I do not pay attention to the results coming from Hendrick this year. It doesn't matter to me where they finish. The drivers are not the same. If I were to compare Mark Martin to Kasey, I wouldn't be saying the same things about them. Mark is a well seasoned veteran and is a great driver, while Kasey is in his seventh seson in the Sprint Cup series. They come from different backgrounds, they have different crew chiefs. The list is endless.



All in all, Kasey is not giving up and I felt that his pole-winning was an excuse to write about him. Keep your eyes on Kasey Kahne, he's already gearing up for the 2011 season!
The views expressed in this post are those of the author and not necessarily those of the site or its administrators.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Kasey Kahne Unlucky Again

Kasey Kahne was running strong last night in the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He led a few laps, even. However, he was bumped from behind and sent down into the grass, causing a rear tire to go down and completely ruining his chance at winning the race.

This season hasn't been a great one for Kasey. He's been back in the late teens in points with no wins, except for the Gatorade Duel back in February. His average start has been 12.4, not horrible, and his average finish has been 17.7. That is pretty good, but not quite good enough to put him into the Chase this season.

Last night left him 18th in standings, too far away to put him in that 12th spot. Had that tire not gone down, he could have hopped into that 13th or 14th spot, putting him in good position for the spot they are all after. But, the tire went down and now he's a sitting duck in the late teens.

I do not believe, however, that it's Kasey's fault that he is back there. One thing that has always made me livid about his luck is the fact that RPM is not giving him the equipment he needs to contend for the chase. Kasey is a great driver with great potential. The cars that RPM is giving him are not what he needs. You can see Elliott Sadler, another driver with 69 career top 10s, is almost always shown out or a lap down. The cars that RPM is giving out are not cars that can contend with the cars from teams such as Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing.

But, if you look at where Kasey is headed, you will see that he is headed in the right direction. A year at Red Bull Racing will give him a year to really focus on his racing and then he will head to Hendrick, arguably the best team that one could move to. Hendrick may not have the best cars this year, but with drivers such as Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, you can bet that Kasey will fit right in.

In conclusion, I believe that Hendrick will be strong in 2012 and I also would like to say that RPM is doing the right thing by going down to two cars. They can focus on two cars every week instead of four. That might be key to more Richard Petty victories!
"The opinions expressed in this post are solely of the author."

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Quaker State Extends Partnership with Hendrick Motorsports to Include Sponsorship of Mark Martin in 2011

Mark Martin Quakerstate HOUSTON, September 4, 2010 –Quaker State and Hendrick Motorsports are proud to announce an expansion of their unparalleled technical relationship, which will increase exposure for the motor oil brand in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Beginning in 2011, the three-year agreement includes primary placement for Quaker State on the No. 5 Chevrolet in four Sprint Cup races annually and associate sponsorship of all Hendrick Motorsports cars.  Quaker State also will continue to be poured in the more than 80 Hendrick Automotive Group franchises throughout the United States.

“We are extremely proud to announce our continued sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports,” said Lisa Davis, Vice President, Shell Lubricants Americas. “Hendrick Motorsports sets the benchmark for performance in NASCAR, and we are proud that Quaker State racing oil has been under the hood of every Hendrick race car for the past 15 years. We have achieved tremendous success together and look forward to many more wins and championships, as Hendrick’s ability to perform on and off the track continues to grow.”


Quaker State’s technical relationship with Hendrick Motorsports began in 1996 and helped produce a Sprint Cup championship that first season with the No. 5 team and driver Terry Labonte. Now with more than seven million on-track miles, the association has resulted in an unparalleled number of racing triumphs, including 143 Sprint Cup wins, eight Cup championships, three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships and one NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.

“We’re excited to continue what has been an extremely successful relationship,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. “Our engine department works hand-in-hand with Quaker State technical personnel to develop the highest possible grade of racing oil for our teams. And the Quaker State relationship extends beyond the racetrack and into our dealerships by providing customers with a durable oil that offers a high level of protection for their vehicles.”

Mark Martin, winner of 40 Sprint Cup races, will drive the No. 5 Chevrolet in 2011. Quaker State’s four races as primary sponsor of the No. 5 car will be determined at a later date.

“The new Quaker State paint scheme looks awesome,” Martin said. “I’m not sure how a paint scheme can look fast, but Quaker State and Hendrick Motorsports did it with this one. I can’t wait to race it and hopefully take it to Victory Lane.

“I know Quaker State and Hendrick Motorsports have a long history together, but I also have a history with Quaker State. The color green actually brought me some good luck back in 1986, when Quaker State was a sponsor on my ASA (American Speed Association) car. Not only did we win races, but we also won the championship that year. I’m excited to be working with them again, after all these years.”

The complete lineup of durable Quaker State motor oils is formulated to deliver outstanding friction-related wear protection for optimal engine performance in any driving condition. For additional information, please visit www.QuakerState.com.


About Quaker State
Quaker State brand products are manufactured by Shell Lubricants.  “The term “Shell Lubricants” means Pennzoil-Quaker State Company (doing business as SOPUS Products), a Shell Group Company, engaged in the lubricants business in the U.S.” Shell Lubricants manufactures and blends products for use in a range of applications from consumer motoring to food processing and heavy industry to commercial transport. The Shell portfolio of top quality lubricant brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell Tellus®, Shell Cassida®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell Spirax®  and a portfolio of car care products and Jiffy Lube® services.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Letarte Signs Contract Extension with Hendrick Motorsports

2009 Michigan June NSCS practice Jeff Gordon Steve Letarte LONG POND, Pa. (July 30, 2010) -- Crew chief Steve Letarte has signed a multi-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, the organization announced Friday.

Heading into Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway, the 31-year-old Letarte has guided Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 DuPont team to 10 wins, 21 runner-up finishes, 77 top-five finishes, 108 top-10s and 14 pole positions in 174 races. Gordon's second-place and top-five finishes during that time rank as the most among all drivers (teammate Jimmie Johnson ranks second in top-fives with 76.)

"I'm extremely excited," Letarte said. "Hendrick Motorsports is the only company I've ever received a paycheck from. I've worked here since I was a teenager, and they've provided wonderful opportunities for me. I owe a lot to them. I'm really excited to be extended here so I can go a few more years."


Letarte, a native of Portland, Maine, has been involved in the No. 24 team on almost every level, starting as a parts assistant while attending high school in 1995. A year later, Letarte was full-time with the No. 24 crew. He went on to work as a tire specialist, mechanic and car chief, winning three of Gordon's four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles under the tutelage of crew chiefs Ray Evernham, Brian Whitesell and Robbie Loomis.

Near the end of the 2005 season, Letarte received the ultimate promotion when then-crew chief Loomis left for a spot at Petty Enterprises. Letarte stepped onto the pit box as the crew chief for Jeff Gordon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 18, 2005. Six races later at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Letarte led the No. 24 team to Victory Lane and picked up his first win as a crew chief. The No. 24 team finished the 2005 season, scoring five top-10s in the last six races with Letarte at the helm.

Since then, Letarte has played a role in helping the No. 24 achieve several milestones. Notably, in 2006 at Infineon Raceway, the team made history after Gordon scored his ninth road course win – a Sprint Cup record. In 2008, Letarte helped extend Gordon's streak of 16 consecutive seasons with a pole position when he picked up his first at Texas Motor Speedway. The team also scored its first victory at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth, Texas, oval earlier that year in April.

Marshall Carlson Named President of Hendrick Motorsports

hendricklogo CONCORD, N.C. (July 28, 2010) – Rick Hendrick this week elevated Marshall Carlson to the role of president and chief operating officer of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick made the announcement Tuesday to more than 500 people at the organization's employee meeting.

The position of Hendrick Motorsports president most recently was held by Hendrick's late brother John Hendrick, who assumed the title in 1998. It has remained vacant since his passing in October 2004.

"Marshall has the ability to plug into every aspect of our industry, from competition to marketing, at an extremely high level," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "He's versatile from a business perspective, and there's a high degree of respect for him throughout the organization because of the way he treats people. We're very fortunate to have someone of his considerable talent help guide us into the future."
Carlson, 37, will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of Hendrick Motorsports, which has earned four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships since he assumed the role of executive vice president and general manager on Jan. 24, 2005.


"Hendrick Motorsports is a family, and it's been one of the great privileges of my life to work with these amazing people," Carlson said. "This opportunity comes with the highest commitment to serve my teammates and support their continued success."

Carlson started his Hendrick Motorsports career sweeping floors as part of a chassis department summer internship. After earning a degree in business administration in 1996 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he served as engineer for the organization's fledgling Camping World Truck team, which earned the first of three series championships in 1997.

Following the 1998 season, Carlson was reassigned to focus on Hendrick Motorsports' sponsorship and marketing efforts as director of marketing services. In 2000, he managed a $10 million facilities effort, which included the design and construction of racing operations space now housing the Sprint Cup Series teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

From 2002 until 2004, Carlson oversaw more than $200 million in real estate projects as vice president of corporate financial management with Hendrick Automotive Group, one of the largest automotive retail operations in the United States.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Carlson was named to the 2009 Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal "Forty Under 40" list, which spotlights the 40 top executives in sports under 40 years of age.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Through fan vote, Jimmie Johnson's idea wins $100,000 grant for Be the Match Foundation

PURCHASE, N.Y. (June 25, 2010) -- After three weeks of intense campaigning and more than 500,000 votes, racing fans have let their voice be heard – Jimmie Johnson's idea to provide financial relief to pediatric bone marrow transplant patients as part of Be The Match Foundation has taken the checkered flag and will receive a $100,000 grant as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.


"I'm thrilled that $100,000 will be going to Be The Match Foundation," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet. "This Pepsi Refresh grant will help kids and their families with the overwhelming costs that come with a bone marrow transplant. I'd like to thank everyone who voted -- the support that all of us have seen has been incredible."

The drivers' passion for their individual ideas was evident and although they didn't receive the most votes, Pepsi will donate a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to each Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to aid in implementing their projects.

In addition to the $25,000 grant, Gordon announced he will make up the difference himself through a donation to the new Child Life Program at The Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital. The purpose of the program is to help physically and sexually abused youth.

"Because I truly believe in this worthwhile project, I am personally contributing $75,000 so we can do everything possible to help these innocent children," Gordon said.

The Pepsi Refresh Project is a groundbreaking effort to foster innovation in social good that will award more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas that help impact the world. Throughout 2010, Pepsi will fund ideas that will move the world forward in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods and Education. The Pepsi Refresh Project, which launched Jan. 13, features significant social engagement around people and the power of ideas. People are encouraged to submit their ideas and to cast a vote for their favorite ideas at www.refresheverything.com.

Press releases courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports, JeffGordon.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF NASCAR MEDIA

Monday, April 26, 2010

The Lugnut Report: Johnson Loses Horseshoe, Has Rough Day in 'Dega


After their run in down in Texas, Jimmie Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon spent the week leading up to Talladega fending off spectulation that a feud was brewing in the Hendrick Motorsports shop.


After Talladega, there seems to be no doubt that there is.


Johnson entered 'Dega 108 points ahead of second place Matt Kenseth and two wins already in the books for the 2010 season. Rain cancelled qualifying, putting Johnson on the pole for the Aaron's 499.
Luck, it seemed, was on Double J's side. Karma, it would prove, was certainly not.
Johnson led just nine laps on the day, but in doing so collected those all important five bonus points. He spent most of the day running in the midst of the front pack, but made little noise otherwise.
It didn't stay that way long, though.
Five laps from the finish, Gordon and Johnson made contact after the No. 48 went to jump in line ahead of his teammate. The No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet would eventually fall back into the field, get caught up in a wreck, and ended his day 22nd.
And, if any consolation to Gordon, Johnson got his, too.


On lap 196, in one of the "Overdrive" green-white-checkers, Johnson and Biffle got together sending the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet into the inside wall. He would finish 31st.


"The 48 is testing my patience, I can tell you that. It takes a lot to make me mad-- and I am pissed right now," Gordon said after the race. Johnson would later take the blame for the incident.
Gordon last went to Victory Lane last season in the spring Texas race. Johnson has won ten races since then. And after this latest incident, will the tension continue to rise between the top two HMS drivers?


While he keeps the points lead, Harvick's win now has him within 26 points of the defending champion, and his points lead may be in even more trouble. With a field seemingly deteremined to take four time down and a pissed off teammate, Johnson and company enter Richmond International Raceway, where tempers are sure to be short.


Thanks to NASCAR on FOX, SPEED, Racing Reference, LA Times and the Associated Press for the information, quotes and statistics used in this piece.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Let The Speculation Begin: Kahne to Hendrick in 2011?

109703

Thank you Marty Smith for turning our world upside down. You’ve made Twitter go nuts and have got tons of NASCAR fans scratching their heads trying to figure out if it’s fact of fiction.

That’s right folks! ESPN’s Marty Smith just dropped this bombshell on us (Read the full story here: Kahne leaving Petty for Hendrick in ‘11) Apparently Kasey Kahne is going to Hendrick in 2011. Is your head spinning? Mine is!

Did Hendrick forget how to do math? Who is going to be leaving if this turns out to be fact? Or will one of the drivers be moving over to Stewart-Haas which is an extension of Hendrick?

What do you think? We want to hear from you regarding this? Would Kasey be a good fit with HMS? Why or why not? Who should be out at HMS?