Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
2014 was not exactly the year that the drivers of Hendrick Motorsports envisioned it to be seeing as how championship weekend is almost upon us and no HMS drivers remain eligible to win a title. That being said, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have each won four races this season and its hard to call four wins a failure. Kasey Kahne on the other hand has not been as successful this season and as a result of that changes could be on the horizon for the No. 5 team in 2015.
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According to a recent report from Motorsport.com, it would seem that the rumor mill is churning out the real possibility that Keith Rodden will be taking over the No. 5 box and replacing Kenny Francis.
"If the rumor mill is right, Rodden could be returning to Hendrick Motorsports next season as Kahne’s crew chief. The trio of Kahne, Francis and Rodden moved to HMS three seasons ago. Francis, who has a year remaining on his contract, would remain on in a technical director type of role."
When it comes to Ganassi Racing for which Rodden is currently with and HMS for which Rodden is expected to be joining, all parties are quiet on the matter. HMS and Ganassi Racing are not commenting on the status of Rodden when it comes to 2015 and Rick Hendrick refused to be specific in regards to changes coming in 2015.
"I don’t know what we’re going to do yet. Doug Duchardt is working on some projects…nothing is done. Nothing is signed. We’re looking at some options, but we’re really happy with what we have."
Hendrick might be happy with what he has but it’s clear that what they have isn’t working when it comes to the No. 5 team. Kahne’s on-track performance was nowhere near that of his teammates and if not for a last-season win Kahne most likely would have missed the chase. 2015 will not only need to be a rebound year for Kahne but it will also be critical for his future in the sport. Kahne’s contract with HMS is coming to an end following next season and it would seem that the consensus around the sport is that his spot will soon belong to Chase Elliott. However, it is worth noting that nothing has been confirmed in regards to what HMS will look like after 2015.
With 2015 being a contract year it will be important for Kahne to show NASCAR that he is capable of winning. Whether winning in 2015 will be enough to secure his spot at HMS remains to be seen as that decision is most likely out of his control. A strong run next season will bode well for Kahne though regardless of whether he is with HMS in 2016 or looking for a new team.
Do you think removing Kenny Francis as crew chief is a positive move for Kahne? Be sure to comment below to let us know what you think.
Christopher Olmstead is the Editor of BeyondTheFlag.com on the FanSided Network. Follow us on Twitter @Beyond_The_Flag and “Like” us on Facebook.