Kasey Kahne is officially pulling the trigger on ending his retirement, and get this, our Enumclaw legend is heading back to the track full-time in the NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series in 2027 with Spire Motorsports. The report dropped from The Athletic on Friday, Oct. 2, and if you’re not hyped, you’re not paying attention.
The Green Flag Drops on an Unexpected Return
This is wild, right? Kahne, at 46 years old, is looking like he’ll be the oldest active full-time driver in any of NASCAR’s three national touring circuits next season. Think about that for a second. The dude won 18 NASCAR Cup Series races between 2004 and 2018, and now he’s gearing up for another run. Spire Motorsports hasn’t said anything publicly yet, but the rumor mill is spinning, and this is big. Our Enumclaw native, who kicked off his whole racing career on dirt tracks in open-wheel sprint cars, is coming back to show everyone he’s still got it.
A Crown Jewel Career Cut Short, Now Reignited
Remember how Kahne absolutely dominated back in the day? He wasn’t just winning races; he was grabbing crown jewels. The man is one of only eight drivers to win the Coca-Cola 600 multiple times, taking the checkered flag three times at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Plus, he snatched up the 2017 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He proved he could win in literally anything, scoring 11 wins in a Dodge, six in a Chevrolet, and even winning the 2011 Phoenix fall race with Toyota and Team Red Bull. He even got the 2010 Daytona Duels in a Ford with Richard Petty Motorsports.
His initial retirement after 2018 wasn’t some slow fade either. It was because of serious health issues, specifically heat exhaustion and dehydration he battled at the Southern 500 in Darlington that season. He missed the final 11 races because of it. That was a tough stretch for the sport, seeing so many legends like Danica Patrick, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon stepping away between 2015 and 2018. But Kahne was also named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, so his legacy is undeniable.
So, when 2027 rolls around, you know we’ll be watching our Enumclaw native tear it up in the FedEx Freight Truck Series. Can he still hang with the younger guys? You bet he can. Get ready, NASCAR, Kasey Kahne is coming back!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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