It's official, Kahne to RedBull for 2011

[eehwkram]

From Jayski:

Kahne to Red Bull in 2011? UPDATESL Red Bull Racing has emerged as the likely place for Kasey Kahne in the 2011 Sprint Cup season, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. Under a proposed arrangement, Kahne would drive one of Red Bull Racing's Toyota's next season as he waits to take over Hendrick's #5 Chevy in 2012, sources close to the situation confirmed Sunday. Mark Martin, as he has maintained since news of Kahne's signing by Hendrick became public in April, would drive the #5 next season, his last with Hendrick. Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing's general manager, would neither confirm nor deny his organization has been in discussions with Hendrick Motorsports to have Kahne drive a Red Bull car next season. Sources maintained that the deal to put Kahne at Red Bill has not been completed, but insisted that it is the most viable option for the 30-year-old driver from Enumclaw, Wash. An HMS spokesman declined to comment on the Kahne-to-Red Bill scenario after Sunday's race. Kahne's agent did not respond to a request for comment.(Charlotte Observer)(8-9-2010)
UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has completed a deal to put Kasey Kahne in a Red Bull Racing Toyota in 2011, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. An announcement could come as early as Tuesday. Which Red Bull car Kahne will drive is still to be determined. Neither of Red Bull's current drivers are guaranteed to drive for the team in 2011. Team general manager Jay Frye has said a decision should be announced on Scott Speed's status by the end of August. Brian Vickers, who has been sidelined since May for the treatment for blood clots, won't know until November if the treatments worked well enough for him to return next season, although the team is optimistic. Hendrick had originally said that he expected to be able to place Kahne in a Chevy for 2011, but it appears it will be a Toyota, which signed a contract extension with Red Bull last year.(Scene Daily)(8-9-2010)
UDPATE 2 Kasey Kahne will drive a Red Bull Racing Team Toyota in 2011, the team announced. "We were fortunate to have the opportunity to hire a very talented driver for the 2011 season and we took it," said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team Vice President and General Manager. "This is a unique situation that doesn't happen every day. Kasey is a perfect fit for our company, team and Red Bull." "This opportunity places me with an established, competitive team that has proven they can win races and make the Chase," Kahne said. "I have great respect for Red Bull, so to have the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing Team in 2011 is a great fit for me, both personally and professionally. It feels good to be able to finally put this to rest and focus my energy on finishing the season strong for the 9 team and our sponsors." "This obviously all happened very quickly," Frye added. "Over the next month, we will finalize the specific team details."(Red Bull Racing PR)(8-10-2010)
UPDATE 3: Statement from Rick Hendrick: "Kasey is going to a competitive organization that made the Chase last season and has great leadership and resources," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Of everything we looked at, he and I agree it's the best opportunity for him to be successful in 2011, which was always our number-one priority. The process went on longer than any of us anticipated, but I'm glad that we took our time to make sure it was right. And although I'm not looking forward to racing against him next year, I'm comfortable knowing this is the best situation for Kasey." As announced in April, veteran Mark Martin will continue to drive Hendrick Motorsports' #5 Chevys in 2011. "We're looking forward to another year with Mark Martin, one of the true class acts in racing, driving for Hendrick Motorsports," Hendrick said. "There aren't many things in this world I'd rather do than win a championship with him, and that will be our goal with the #5 team for the rest of this year and in 2011."(Hendrick PR)(8-10-2010)

[roosterrage]

It will be interesting to see if it's the 82 or I guess the 84 if they expand, or the 83 if Vickers can't come back. I bet they won't even know until Vickers checkup in a few months, although Speed's future is supposed to be determined pretty soon.

[JiggaStyles09]

Kyle Petty made a good point on NASCAR live in that the whole situation with Martin & Kahne happened maybe a little too quickly. Why did Kahne have to leave so early instead of just waiting to see the whole situation. Stay @ RPM for another year & move to the 5 in '12.

I guess he was so eager to leave Ford & RPM he couldn't stand it.

[yatesracing]

Would like to see Kahne leave NOW. Couldn't go fast enough for me

[DeeDee]

Kyle Petty made a good point on NASCAR live in that the whole situation with Martin & Kahne happened maybe a little too quickly. Why did Kahne have to leave so early instead of just waiting to see the whole situation. Stay @ RPM for another year & move to the 5 in '12.

I guess he was so eager to leave Ford & RPM he couldn't stand it.

My understanding of this deal is he got screwed by Ford <back when> not the other way around. When he was driving for Ford back in the Busch/NW days Ford told him, if he got an offer to move up they wanted a chance to find him a equal/competitive ride. <sounds fair> Ford found him a ride but it was with a less competitive team so naturally Kahne took the better. How can ya blame him? Since then obviously there has been ownership and Mfg change. I can see where he's not willing to stick with Ford after getting the shaft (so to speak). I haven't been following Kahne much, but my questions is when is his contract up at RPM? If it's 2010, he got an offer for the 5 ride for 2011 maybe RPM wasn't willing to give him just a year extension? idk ?

Many people are too willing to slam the door on him and I don't think it's fair nor do I understand it ..... but that's JMO.

Would like to see Kahne leave NOW. Couldn't go fast enough for me

For gosh sakes he's on the poll and you want to get rid of him now?? doesn't make any sense

[yatesracing]

He is on the the POLE SO WHAT am I suppose to do the dance of joy. No driver should be driving a race car for a team he doesn't want to be with PERIOD.

[JiggaStyles09]

i don't know what happened to him & the details surrounding his departure from Ford years ago, i didn't follow NASCAR then so i really can't comment on that part. yeah from what i've read it sounds like they have had their differences. all i'm saying is it seemed that he jumped ship too early & he might have avoided all that friction by waiting another year. i think if RPM could've kept him for another year they would have gladly done that.

although maybe it was in part an issue with Hendrick just assuming that Martin would step down for Kahne & when Martin didn't things got complicated. i don't blame at all Kahne for wanting to get in superior equipment. i just think it was handled poorly but it could've been as much Hendrick's fault than Kahne's.

[RacingDude]

No driver should be driving a race car for a team he doesn't want to be with PERIOD.

And that is what I kept saying last year when Kevin Harvick kept acting like a baby because RCR was having a down year.

[TeamBlueOval]

I have to disagree DeeDee.

FORD wanted Kasey to continue in the Nationwide Series for one more year with Akins Racing (who had a partnership with Yates). Kasey got an offer to go Cup racing with Evernham, broke his contract with FORD / YATES and went to the 9. Kasey screwed FORD and ALL the people who helped bring him to NASCAR.

And, as for being on the pole.... that really doesn't mean anything. Nothing would make me happier than an announcement tomorrow that RPM is sitting Kasey out for the rest of the year. I have no respect for him anymore. He said he would give the team a chance to prove they could be competitive, yet he bailed with a new deal announced less than 10 races into the season.

He's a talented driver and it's gone to his head.

[eehwkram]

I don't blame Kahne in either instance, making the leap to Evernham or Hendrick, he did what he thought was best for his career. But now that he is all but out of the chase and Bud is leaving no matter what, if Ambrose is indeed going to be with the 9 team next year, lets go ahead and get that team together now so that they can start working out the kinks over the last 13 races of this year and then they can hit the ground running next season.

[yatesracing]

Andrew you have renewed my faith. Your comments on the SCREWING THAT FORD GOT FROM KAHNE was right on the money. THANKS I was afraid had I gotten into that discussion, I might have been told to behave myself. LOL

[DeeDee]

Andrew, I somewhat understand your thinking, but I have to wonder if it were reversed ... had he been with Dodge first moving to Ford you'd have a whole different opinion on this subject. Bottom line Ford couldn't/didn't match the Evernham deal, even though he abided by the clause in his contract w/ford, that makes him a trader I guess Now he jumping ship (cus his contract is up at the end of the year) to a better team again.

It actually scares the he** out of me that there is a good possibility of Ambrose returning to Ford again. I had to listen to people blast him for stealing sponsors when JTG and the Woods slit and then JTG changed Mgfs. Now people are hoping that he brings the sponsors with him. It wasn't OK then but it's Ok now. Ya can't have it both ways. ~JMO

So, I guess I can expect Ambrose to be thrown under the bus just like Kahne and Menard if he goes to RMP and at the end of his contract he elects move up and on.

End of discussion for me. I'm am first and foremost a driver fan (I'm not a Kahne or RPM fan) and I guess I just don't understand the thinking of Mfg Fans. ~ Nothing personal, just seem a bit biased

[yatesracing]

Bias , heck yes. Wouldn't be much of a FORD FAN if I wasn't. It's got to be a tough job when a FAN have a few drivers they like and have "A MULTI CHOICE for a win on race day. Me it's never a worry, it's FORD ALL THE WAY.

Now thinking about Marcos, should he decide to return to FORD, he'll be welcomed. Marcos has always been a FORD driver and thru no fault of his own (at that time) had to go elsewhere. A true fan of a certain mfg does not change with the changing of the drivers. Mfg'g FANs REMAIN LOYAL. Driver fans remain loyal as long as their drivers are still around, once they leave ,eventually they will pick up another driver. Of course there are some ,like JR's fans who will hold out but again once he is gone (not quite the same way as they were with Jr) will select another driver. This will rarely happen with a mfg fan. BIAS YOU BETCHA- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT You know exactly who I want to win at a race A DRIVER IN A FORD. I love 'em all

<<<Now he jumping ship (cus his contract is up at the end of the year) to a better team again.>>> Better Team, we'll see I wouldn't bet on it but I would bet on a 2011 FORD YEAR


Hoping you don't mind me putting in my 2 cents altho I think it's worth a lot more.

[TeamBlueOval]

Marcos took sponsors FROM Ford when he left, why shouldn't he bring them BACK to Ford now??

[yatesracing]

Exactly and to a toyota!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost wasn't going to forgive them for that LOL