There’s been weeks when Kasey Kahne said he’s questioned whether Richard Petty Motorsports was really putting its best foot forward for his No. 9 team.
Kasey Kahne Says Pole Run Shows RPM Is Still Giving Effort
With Kahne leaving RPM at the end of the season for Red Bull Racing and ultimately Hendrick Motorsports, the driver said “I go through stages where I wonder” how much a part of the organization he really is.
But after winning the Kansas pole on Friday, Kahne got some much-needed reassurance that RPM is still trying to give him good cars.
"It is kind of a tough situation to be in to tell you the truth," he said. "I didn't think I would struggle with it, but I do at times. You get wondering and you don't know, and it happens with guys on the team too and the guys at the shop.
“Some guys are leaving and going different places and getting switched around, so that throws you off, too. When you have a day like today and you win the pole, you realize it is all there and you just need to work together as a team like we have all year and hopefully finish strong.”
Kahne was joined on the front row by RPM’s Paul Menard, who is also leaving the team after this season. Despite some concerns from Kahne fans, the driver said “it shows that RPM is giving us great race cars.”
It also shows, he said, that “our teams are still really interested in running strong and not backing down at all just because we have other things we are going to do in the future.”
This year hasn’t been easy for Kahne. In May, he revealed he would drive for Hendrick beginning in 2011, but next year’s temporary move to Red Bull wasn’t announced until August.
And it’s still unclear whether longtime crew chief Kenny Francis will reunite with Kahne next year, in the future or not at all.
Meanwhile, Kahne – who has 11 career Cup wins – has suffered through a winless season and is 19th in points. He’s had just one top-10 finish in the last nine races.
"We have the package, we just need to put it all together," Kahne said. "We have struggled. We had that deal in Atlanta that maybe made us miss the Chase and we haven't run well since.
“It feels good to get on the pole today and hopefully it gives us some momentum for Sunday’s race. Hopefully we can carry that.”
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