So, what becomes of the #5???

HoneyBadger

HoneyBadger

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There was a lot of momentum behind the "Kevin Harvick going to Hendrick" rumor, but that really died off until Tom Bowles and Christopher Olmstead reported on it at Dover.

I think the "Kyle Larson to Hendrick" rumor is more of a hope than an actual probability. Kyle Larson's popular but definitely isn't reaching his potential at Chip Ganassi Racing, and there's definitely some talk that he wants out.

So, where's that leave us?

There's little doubt, in my mind, that Hendrick Motorsports would like to see more from Kasey Kahne. And I'm sure his seat is hot. But, is he going to be ousted from Hendrick Motorsports, as was rumored in the middle of last week?

The sources of those rumors, and the people who have reported on those rumors, have completely walked away from them. Meaning, there's simply no truth.

Conclusion: Kasey Kahne isn't going anywhere. After this season, he has two more years on his contract. If he doesn't do anything between now and then, he's a goner for sure.
 
For all we know, there could be a performance clause that would give HMS an easy out, so that two years left, may not mean a lot. But either way, the #5 team as whole needs to turn things around.
 
Kahnes locked there till his contract is up. Then they'll go their separate ways. I agree that the Larson thing is more of a fans pipe dream than anything. Larson is too nice a guy to leave Gannassi anyways, wouldn't suprise me in the least to see him re sign with them.
 
DaBiff1618 said:
Kahnes locked there till his contract is up. Then they'll go their separate ways. I agree that the Larson thing is more of a fans pipe dream than anything. Larson is too nice a guy to leave Gannassi anyways, wouldn't suprise me in the least to see him re sign with them.
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Agreed on all counts. Kahne is a lifer. He'll be in Cup for another 5-10 years. Maybe not in Hendrick after his contract expires, but he isn't going away.
 
It might be more about who attracts the biggest sponsors. Maybe the guys in the suits or the bean counters see more in Kahne than we can.
 
Larson wants to run the 500.

The Indianapolis 500. That's not a rumor.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Lots of guys want to do the double. That doesn't mean any of them are going to take action.
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Chip Ganassi can make that very much easier for Larson. In a real car.

Larson is serious about it. So ... he won't be available to another Cup team. Maybe Tom Bowles will get on that.
 
aunty dive said:
Chip Ganassi can make that very much easier for Larson. In a real car.

Larson is serious about it. So ... he won't be available to another Cup team. Maybe Tom Bowles will get on that.
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Ah. I'd forgotten about easy access to an IRL team as a factor in Kyle's career decisions.

Of course, if he jumped to the #10 car then he could maybe get an F1 one-off. Remember, you heard it here first. :p
 
His heart is in dirt and sprint car racing, that's when I started following this kid. I think he would've rather gone to Indycar but money talks. NASCAR is where the money is which is a shame because Indycar loses a lot of good young talents due to their incompetence. Larson driving for Gannassi in Indycar would've been awesome.
 
^ + ^^ It's an old school thing. ... midgets / sprint cars / (now) silver crown cars and then Indianapolis. Until NASCAR caught fire, that was livin' the dream. Larson comes from the spirit of that.

If he was anywhere else, he'd have to get permission to try it in a not-so competitive car. I doubt he'll leave Ganassi.
 
Kyle's dad is a big IndyCar fan. He said himself, just a few days ago at the Speedway, he considers Indy the biggest race in the world. Hopefully Chip gives him the opportunity someday.
 
IDK what the problem is with the 5 car but when you run for a top team and contribute poor results you will be on the hot seat and spoken about. All 4 JGR cars run well although Hamlin appears to the the weak link. HMS has 3 of 4 teams that are doing fine, SHR has 2 of 4 and the 2 Penske cars are alright but JLo didn't pick up from where he left off last year. The 78 team runs well but normally not at the right time as they always seem to have bad luck or self inflicted wounds.

I used to think Larson was the real deal after his first year as he had outstanding results. He took a step backward last year and is not lighting it up this year yet. He is still young enough that he may have a bright cup future but like others have said he will need to get away from CGR. JGR would be smart to try and get him tied up and have a 3 car Furniture Row team that would feature Larson, Hamlin and Truex. SHR is going to be in desperate need for some young blood soon as Harvick will be 41 at the end of the year, Kurt will be 38 this summer, Clint will be 37 in 10 days and Danica is the youngster at 34.
 
I'll wait and see how Larson performs the rest of the year before I call him a bust but as of now he's certainly a dissapointment. I think he's gonna regret not moving kenseth for the win for a long long time
 
Since Johnson joined Hendrick full time the combined number of wins between the 48 'n 24 totals over a hundred. Over the same period of time with various drivers, the 5 'n 25 (88) totals less then thirty.

I dunno. Maybe Johnson 'n Gordon were that much better, maybe not. Maybe the problem with Kahne ain't Kahne.
 
Kahne has two more years and will not go anywhere before then. Kasey can drive, he has won at a variety of tracks including Bristol and Sonoma, two places where Jr has not. I honestly believe Rodden is not very good, car never seems to be fast off the truck and when that happens the weekend is spent trying to catch up.
 
CalTenn said:
Kahne has two more years and will not go anywhere before then. Kasey can drive, he has won at a variety of tracks including Bristol and Sonoma, two places where Jr has not. I honestly believe Rodden is not very good, car never seems to be fast off the truck and when that happens the weekend is spent trying to catch up.
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Let's not forget that Kasey is pretty popular as well. He usually ranks pretty high in MPD voting every year. He's not quite to that Dale Jr/Danica Patrick level where his job is safe regardless of on-track performance, but his popularity probably doesn't hurt.
 
I had heard that Hendrick could sort of get around Kasey's next 2 years if he is in a full Hendrick car which could be an Hscott ride. Anyone know if there is any truth to that?
 
DaBiff1618 said:
I'll wait and see how Larson performs the rest of the year before I call him a bust but as of now he's certainly a dissapointment. I think he's gonna regret not moving kenseth for the win for a long long time
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I'm not sure anyone wants to dump a guy for their first win though. Kurt Busch never lived down how he got his first career win.
 
CalTenn said:
Kahne has two more years and will not go anywhere before then. Kasey can drive, he has won at a variety of tracks including Bristol and Sonoma, two places where Jr has not. I honestly believe Rodden is not very good, car never seems to be fast off the truck and when that happens the weekend is spent trying to catch up.
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This ^ right here.
 
I forgot to drink my morning cup of 'I hate Kasey'. Seems like a nice enough guy. I'd like to see him turn his results around continue to run the #5.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I forgot to drink my morning cup of 'I hate Kasey'. Seems like a nice enough guy. I'd like to see him turn his results around continue to run the #5.
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KK seems OK to me too but something has got to give with the 5 team as it is under performing. I didn't say KK was as perhaps he is or maybe he is getting the most out of what he is given.
 
Ryan Blaney and Kasey Kahne seat swap at the end of the year maybe?
 
aunty dive said:
^ + ^^ It's an old school thing. ... midgets / sprint cars / (now) silver crown cars and then Indianapolis. Until NASCAR caught fire, that was livin' the dream. Larson comes from the spirit of that.

If he was anywhere else, he'd have to get permission to try it in a not-so competitive car. I doubt he'll leave Ganassi.
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KuBu didn't get a chance with Penske at Indy until he left Penske in Cup.
 
DUN24 said:
KuBu didn't get a chance with Penske at Indy until he left Penske in Cup.
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I don't know if he expressed interest when he was with Penske. He did do that NHRA event when he was with them I believe.

Rick has been adamant in the past about Kasey not doing IndyCar events.
 
aunty dive said:
^ + ^^ It's an old school thing. ... midgets / sprint cars / (now) silver crown cars and then Indianapolis. Until NASCAR caught fire, that was livin' the dream. Larson comes from the spirit of that.

If he was anywhere else, he'd have to get permission to try it in a not-so competitive car. I doubt he'll leave Ganassi.
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DUN24 said:
KuBu didn't get a chance with Penske at Indy until he left Penske in Cup.
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Wut?

Kyle Larson hasn't been found on the floor in the fetal position, naked and crying. So ... they don't have that in common either.
 
aunty dive said:
Wut?

Kyle Larson hasn't been found on the floor in the fetal position, naked and crying. So ... they don't have that in common either.
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Haha just saying. If he leaves Ganassi, it doesn't mean he won't have an opportunity in one of Chip's Indycars...
 
Could be that I missed it but has anyone of any importance to the Kahne effort publicly expressed concern over the performance of the #5?
 
^
I'm not really sure why Andy started this one. He opens by asking "What becomes of the #5?", then expresses his opinion that nothing will change.

Discussion: What becomes of the sun next season?
Post: Well, I think it's going to rise every day.

A valid opinion but if you don't expect anything to change and no one has evidence to the contrary, why talk about it in the first place?
 
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DUN24 said:
Haha just saying. If he leaves Ganassi, it doesn't mean he won't have an opportunity in one of Chip's Indycars...
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If he leaves Ganassi, it doesn't mean he won't have an opportunity to divorce his wife and take up with a trained assassin. So there's that ...

I don't think you get where I'm comin' from.
 
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