Replacing Bill Elliott in the No. 9 Dodge meant angering Ford officials, who insist he broke his contract.
By BRANT JAMES
Published January 14, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH - It's not that Kasey Kahne doesn't appreciate being in demand.
But at age 23, with zero Nextel Cup starts, he's attempting to replace a legend in the No. 9 Dodge. The rookie has neither the time nor the will to engage Ford Racing officials who claim he reneged on their development deal.
Kahne insists he fulfilled his contractual obligations before leaving Akins Motorsports to take over the semi-retired Bill Elliott's ride at Evernham Motorsports.
"I've done everything for Ford I needed to do for them at the end of last year," Kahne said. "As far as I see it, there is nothing going on but me driving for Dodge."
Jan. 6, however, during the first of two test sessions at Daytona International Speedway, Ford Racing Technology operations manager Greg Specht still insisted differently.
"He's still currently under contract with Ford," said Specht, whose company had no Nextel Cup plans for Kahne until at least 2005.
Retorted Kahne: "He obviously doesn't know what he's talking about."
The question is whether Ford will attempt to make a point with Kahne. It has a certain sensitivity about the issue. The manufacturer at times had Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart and most recently Kyle Busch in Fords, only to lose them. Specht would not discuss his company's potential legal options.
Though the intrigue made Kahne's first full-time duty with Evernham more interesting than a typical week of testing, he was trying to concentrate on the details of reaching stock car racing's highest level in a relatively short period. A bit quieter than an outgoing Dodge stable including 2003 rookie of the year Jamie McMurray, Jeremy Mayfield and fellow rookie Brendan Gaughan, Kahne speaks confidently, though his body language often seems less sure.
"I am really lucky," he said. "Some people, you just get lucky in racing in what you're doing. For me to drive the No. 9 car in which Bill Elliott has done so many things in, just one of the best NASCAR drivers ever ... you would not expect to have it happen."
Replacing a legend carries certain weight.
"The pressure," Mayfield chimed during a news conference with Kahne. "It's the pressure you guys want to talk about."
Exactly. Pressure replacing Elliott. Pressure driving for a team owner, Ray Evernham, who as a crew chief helped develop Gordon into a four-time Cup champion. Pressure working under a high-profile crew chief - Tommy Baldwin - brought in specifically for Kahne. Pressure taking over a car that finished last season with a win - two if not for a last-lap blown tire at Homestead - and six top-10s in the final seven races. Pressure making his first Nextel Cup start on Feb. 15 in the Daytona 500.
"I believe this kid can be challenging for wins," Evernham said. "Nobody can sit here and say you're going to win. Some veterans have gone a lot of races without winning. To put that kind of pressure on the kid, that's all part of it. He can handle it. This is a big-boy sport."
Kahne started 20 Busch Series races for Robert Yates Racing in 2002, with an average finish of 22.8 including 10th at the Cabela's 250 at Michigan. Shuffled to Akins Motorsports last season in a deal brokered by Ford, Kahne had 14 top-10s in a full 34-race slate, was seventh in points and won the finale at Homestead. Late in the season Evernham contacted him about possibly replacing Elliott.
"I had a lot going on," Kahne said. "I don't think it changed our racing, I don't think it changed our focus, but there was just a lot more to think about. When I went to bed, I would be thinking, Man, I have a chance to go to Nextel Cup, should I do it or not?"
Elliott's experience was made available to Kahne even before he agreed to join Evernham. In between Colorado snowboarding trips and readying for his shortened season, Elliott has continued as a mentor on speed dial.
But Elliott could not drive the car for him. As confident as Kahne is, a lack of high-level stock car experience is a concern. So Evernham set up a Busch team for him, and he will run a full schedule concurrent with the 36-date Nextel Cup slate.
Kahne is about to learn what demands are all about.
