NASCAR mailbag: What’s next for Kasey Kahne?

Each week SB Nation’s NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi answers your questions about the latest news and happenings within the sport. If you have a future mailbag question, email jordanmbianchi@gmail.com.

What happens with Kasey Kahne? I think it’s a good thing he’s leaving Hendrick, as he seemed so out of place. But where to for next year? Tony Stewart likes him, so maybe he could end up at Stewart-Haas Racing?

--Randy

Hendrick Motorsports resolved one of the big Silly Season unknowns when it announced William Byron would replace Kahne as driver of its No. 5 car next season, but in doing so also created questions on Kahne’s future plans.

A fresh start will do Kahne good. Aside from winning the Brickyard 400 last month, the results simply weren’t there to continue justifying a position on Hendrick’s roster. Joining a team where the expectations are lower and more realistic should help rejuvenate Kahne career, who at age 37 still has plenty of prime years left.

SHR is one option to sign Kahne, and under the right circumstances would be a good fit for both parties. However, until the team figures out its sponsorship situation its driver lineup will remain in flux outside of Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer absolutely returning in 2018, with Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick currently in limbo.

The likeliest destination for Kahne points toward him moving to GMS Racing, which is considering expanding beyond the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series where it currently fields multiple teams in each division. GMS starting up a Cup Series team would include a technical alliance with Hendrick, which already supplies the team with engines, and include Hendrick facilitating Kahne being named GMS’ driver.

Team owner Rick Hendrick not so subtly hinted at this arrangement when he spoke with reporters Wednesday during a teleconference announcing Byron’s hire. Hendrick said he’s on the hook for Kahne’s 2018 salary, as he had another year left on his contract with the team and Hendrick is trying to help Kahne secure a ride somewhere.

“I’m not going to mention the team, but I know there are several situations that we’re talking to, kind of an alliance, which would be good for everyone,” Hendrick said. “We’re working on it. We’ve been working on it and we’ll just see how it develops.”

Barring any setbacks, all indications are Kahne will race under the GMS banner in 2018. And this shouldn’t be construed as a bad thing. This scenario provides Kahne a landing spot amidst a time when drivers such as Patrick, Busch, Matt Kenseth and Darrell Wallace Jr. are having difficulty solidifying what they’re going to do next season.

Is Kasey to blame for his failure at Hendrick or should the team take the blame? It feels like he should’ve won more races, but it also feels like the No. 5 car was an afterthought most of the time.

--Kyle

There’s no singular reason why Kahne’s Hendrick tenure underwhelmed. Nor is any one individual or entity deserving of full blame. More so, the culprit is an issue Hendrick is quite familiar with: How to have all of its drivers be equally competitive.

Stretching itself too thin and not able to sufficiently figure out the formula to have all of its cars operating at a superior level isn’t something exclusive to Hendrick -- SHR is experiencing the similar issue amongst its four cars -- but the problem is most pronounced at Hendrick, NASCAR’s highest profile organization.

And even before Hendrick added a fourth car to accommodate Jimmie Johnson’s arrival in 2002, this was an issue within the team. Whereas Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte dominated during the mid-1990s, routinely winning races and championships, its third team featuring a rotating cast of journeyman drivers produced largely mediocre results most years with just a single victory from March 1991 through November 2000.

Although the disparity has been lessened in recent seasons, Kahne going 102 races between wins suggests there is a still a significant gap within Hendrick between what No. 48 team is capable of and what the No. 5 can accomplish. Hendrick acknowledged as much Wednesday, saying it was a priority to shrink this divide. Whether this actually occurs, however, remains to be seen.

How will Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch each needing a ride for next season shakeout? It seems like there are more drivers available than teams, which means some drivers are going to get left out.

--Peter

That there is no shortage of talent available on the market, yet teams lack the necessary sponsorship to act is the essence of what is a Silly Season unlike any in recent history.

Conceivably scenarios exist where one or two prominent names could find themselves on the sidelines next season. (Kenseth is the likeliest candidate.) Or at the least, having to accept the reality that if they want to continue racing in Cup their only options consist of signing with lesser teams not befitting their abilities.

Just as likely all three will find quality rides. Especially when you consider SHR may need to fill and maybe even two seats, while Furniture Row Racing and Richard Childress Racing each has a vacancy -- contingent on sponsorship. And as noted above, Kahne appears headed to GMS.

Of course, this could all change tomorrow with an out-of-nowhere announcement. But as of now, this is how the tea leaves read.