NASCAR: Five Possible Landing Spots for Kasey Kahne in 2018

By Asher Fair | Aug 10, 2017

LONG POND, PA - JULY 29: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Great Clips/Shark Week Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton's 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 29, 2017 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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LOUDON, NH – JULY 14: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

LOUDON, NH – JULY 14: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

No. 41 – Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford

Kurt Busch, the current driver of the #41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, did not have his contract option picked up by the team, so he is officially a free agent. Despite the fact that he did win this year’s Daytona 500, he has not had a great season compared to his recent seasons.

While the 2004 Cup Series champion is still probably a little bit better than Kasey Kahne despite his struggles this season, he is two years old than him and Stewart-Haas Racing may be willing to shake things up this offseason, even if it means grabbing a readily available driver who is only two years younger than Busch.

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While there is still speculation that Stewart-Haas Racing did not renew Busch’s contract because they wanted him for longer than the option would have been for, they very well could have worked out a long-term deal in the meantime after picking up his option if this was indeed the case.

Why? Because nothing would have prevented them from keeping Busch on the team as long as they wanted to, as it’s not like he’s a highly desirable young talent that all of the other top-tier teams are foaming at the mouth to have a crack at signing. Sure, he did win this year’s Daytona 500, but other than that, his results have been lackluster at best.

That said, the team did say on Twitter that they want Busch back in the 2018 season after the news broke that his option would not be picked up, so it is still a real possibility that he will return.

We don't comment on contract status, but we expect @KurtBusch back in our @MonsterEnergy / @Haas_Automation Ford in '18. Just sayin'.
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) August 1, 2017

However, until Busch’s return to the team in 2018 is 100% confirmed, he is a free agent, and Kahne may have a chance to snatch his seat next season.