NASCAR: Looking Ahead At The 2015 Potential Free Agents

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 Kasey Kahne

Hendrick Motorsports has combined to win nine races in 2014. Kahne has not won a single race thus far this season with only two races left prior to the chase. The other bad news for Kahne is that he is 33 points out of the final chase spot. While 33 points is by no means impossible to overcome, it will not be easy for Kahne to do. Kahne’s two top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes aren’t horrible. However it becomes an issue when the other three drivers on his team are averaging eight top-five’s and 15 top-10’s.

Despite a disappointing 2014 Kahne may still be brought back beyond 2015 however I do not believe that any of that will have to do with him. Kahne’s future with HMS might be tied in with that of Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliott. Elliott will be completing his second Nationwide Series season in 2015 and would be ready to come to Sprint Cup full-time in 2016. Should Elliott come up in 2016 he is going to need a ride and it would make sense for him to slot into Kahne’s spot.

The one thing that could save Kahne would be Gordon retiring. Gordon has been on record as saying that he would hang them up should he win his fifth championship in 2014. Unfortunately for Kahne I am going to have to call BS on Gordon. Should Gordon win a fifth championship in 2014 I believe it would only further light a fire under him and he would then want a sixth championship. Besides, if Gordon can race at his 2014 level in 2015-2017 (the length of his current sponsor deals) he would have no reason to retire. Gordon looks primed to win a title this season and if he can maintain this level he might win a couple more before he rides off into the sunset.

Prediction: Kasey Kahne will leave HMS after 2015 to make room for Chase Elliott. The move will benefit Kahne also as he has not flourished with HMS the way that some thought he would. Kahne needs a change in scenery.