Kahne On NASCAR Return: ‘I’ve Paid Close Attention’

Kasey Kahne (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – For the first time in nearly seven years, Kasey Kahne got behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car, and in ways it seemed like he’d barely been gone at all.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, extended due to a Tuesday rain delay, NASCAR held an open test session at Rockingham Speedway for NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams ahead of their return to the historic one-mile oval on April 18-19.

One of the drivers taking part in the test was Kahne, who recently announced that he’d compete for Richard Childress Racing in the No. 33 Chevrolet for the Xfinity Series race during Easter weekend.

It marks Kahne’s first NASCAR national series appearance since the 2018 Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Kahne took part in the open test with RCR to prepare for his return in April.

Kahne, who was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, is a 34-time winner in the Cup Series and has plenty of success at The Rock on his résumé. He won in the Truck Series at the track in 2012 and earned a runner-up in the Cup Series race in 2004, losing to Matt Kenseth in a photo finish.

When he saw that the track would be returning in 2025, he started asking around and landed with Childress for a one-off start.

“I’ve paid close attention to what's going on,” said Kahne of his time away from NASCAR. “I saw this Rockingham race pop up and I was like ‘That’s a track I know and have enjoyed racing at over the years.’ I started reaching out to figure out a way to get back into and do a race. It felt like it had been [only] four or five years since I’ve done a race, but it’s more like six and a half.

“But I’ve worked with Chevrolet and RCR [and] done a little bit of sim work, which helped a lot [getting re-acclimated].”

Kasey Kahne in action during NASCAR testing at Rockingham Speedway. (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)

Kahne left the sport in 2018 due to health issues. Yet, after several years out of the car, he started racing dirt sprint cars again a few years ago. His team, Kasey Kahne Racing, won five World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championships with Brad Sweet behind the wheel and won the Kubota High Limit Sprint Car Series championship last year with Sweet as well.

Make no mistake, Kahne has also been behind the wheel – driving for his own team the last several years – and is going to compete full-time in High Limit again this year.

It’s a process he hopes will continue to build even as he dips his toe back into the NASCAR waters.

“The sprint car teams have done very well since I haven’t been in NASCAR. I’ve raced a lot in the last three years a lot in the sprint car,” noted Kahne. “[But] it’s so much different than this style of racing. [I’m] working hard to get better at that [transition].”

Even with the transition from sprint cars back to NASCAR, Kahne was able to finish Tuesday’s test session eighth quickest overall after four 45-minute sessions, with a fastest time of 23.023 seconds (159.024 mph), turning 119 laps total in the process.

On Wednesday, Kahne took part in both one-hour long test sessions, setting lap times of 23.103 seconds (158.437 mph) and 23.123 seconds (158.336 mph), ranking 13th overall on day two.

It’s something that can Kahne and his fans a sense of optimism as the Enumclaw, Wash., native prepares for a long-awaited return to the stock car realm in pursuit of another checkered flag.

Fans can watch not only Kahne’s return, but all the action from Rockingham Speedway on Easter weekend, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 set for Saturday, April 19 at 4 p.m. ET on The CW, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

For ticket information regarding NASCAR weekend at Rockingham Speedway, visit racetherock.com/tickets.