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Sprint Cup
CUP: Kahne’s Move A Boost For Red Bull
Red Bull Racing officials are glad to have Kasey Kahne in the fold for 2011...
Kasey Kahne is looking forward to a season at Red Bull Racing. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
When Jay Frye had the chance to partner with driver Kasey Kahne – even for only one season, he jumped at the deal.
“Kasey is a proven commodity,” Frye, Red Bull Racing vice president, said Tuesday in announcing that Kahne will drive for Red Bull in one of the team’s Toyotas in the 2011 Sprint Cup season.
“We had the opportunity to secure his services for next year, and we’re thrilled we were able to do that.”
Frye compared the Kahne situation to that of NFL quarterback Brett Favre.
“Why would the Vikings try to hire Brett Favre for one year?” he said. “They want to win and win now. We’re going into next season knowing we have a proven commodity in one of our cars, and we’re excited about that.”
Kahne has signed with Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet to drive for the sport’s No. 1 team in 2012. Team owner Rick Hendrick had been searching for a spot for Kahne in 2011 and worked out the deal with Red Bull despite the fact that the teams are aligned with different car manufacturers.
The Red Bull driver lineup for next season has not been finalized. Brian Vickers, the team’s lead driver, currently is not racing while he wrestles with health issues, but he hopes to return at the beginning of the 2011 season. Scott Speed, the team’s other driver, has struggled in his second full season, and his status for 2011 will be determined in the next 30 to 45 days, Frye said.
Frye said there is a possibility the operation could expand to three teams next season. “Is that what’s going to happen? We’re unclear,” he said.
Frye said Kahne, 30, has a contract with Red Bull for 2011 and that he will be paid through the team’s operations. He said Hendrick Motorsports is not paying Red Bull.
“We have a great relationship with Hendrick Motorsports,” Frye said. “Rick has been a great friend and mentor of mine for a long time.”
Frye said Vickers is progressing. “We have great expectations that everything’s going to work out for Brian,” he said. “He’s only halfway through the process with his treatments. We have high hopes, but to be able to get a Kasey Kahne caliber of driver even for just one year, he’ll do a lot of things to make sure our progress is pointed in the right direction.
“Scott has been with Red Bull a long time. He has to continue to get better. Now we’re going to tracks for the third or fourth time, and you certainly want to see progress from the last time he was at a certain track.”
Kahne said he feels confident the Red Bull team can do well next season.
“It feels really good to be secure for next year and have a really good deal with Red Bull,” he said. “It’s nice to have it over with and to know what I’m going and to have a positive attitude and look forward to it.
“As soon as Rick told me about it, I thought it was a great idea.”
Frye said there is no possibility that Kahne will drive one of the team cars in any part of this year’s schedule.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
“Kasey is a proven commodity,” Frye, Red Bull Racing vice president, said Tuesday in announcing that Kahne will drive for Red Bull in one of the team’s Toyotas in the 2011 Sprint Cup season.
“We had the opportunity to secure his services for next year, and we’re thrilled we were able to do that.”
Frye compared the Kahne situation to that of NFL quarterback Brett Favre.
“Why would the Vikings try to hire Brett Favre for one year?” he said. “They want to win and win now. We’re going into next season knowing we have a proven commodity in one of our cars, and we’re excited about that.”
Kahne has signed with Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet to drive for the sport’s No. 1 team in 2012. Team owner Rick Hendrick had been searching for a spot for Kahne in 2011 and worked out the deal with Red Bull despite the fact that the teams are aligned with different car manufacturers.
The Red Bull driver lineup for next season has not been finalized. Brian Vickers, the team’s lead driver, currently is not racing while he wrestles with health issues, but he hopes to return at the beginning of the 2011 season. Scott Speed, the team’s other driver, has struggled in his second full season, and his status for 2011 will be determined in the next 30 to 45 days, Frye said.
Frye said there is a possibility the operation could expand to three teams next season. “Is that what’s going to happen? We’re unclear,” he said.
Frye said Kahne, 30, has a contract with Red Bull for 2011 and that he will be paid through the team’s operations. He said Hendrick Motorsports is not paying Red Bull.
“We have a great relationship with Hendrick Motorsports,” Frye said. “Rick has been a great friend and mentor of mine for a long time.”
Frye said Vickers is progressing. “We have great expectations that everything’s going to work out for Brian,” he said. “He’s only halfway through the process with his treatments. We have high hopes, but to be able to get a Kasey Kahne caliber of driver even for just one year, he’ll do a lot of things to make sure our progress is pointed in the right direction.
“Scott has been with Red Bull a long time. He has to continue to get better. Now we’re going to tracks for the third or fourth time, and you certainly want to see progress from the last time he was at a certain track.”
Kahne said he feels confident the Red Bull team can do well next season.
“It feels really good to be secure for next year and have a really good deal with Red Bull,” he said. “It’s nice to have it over with and to know what I’m going and to have a positive attitude and look forward to it.
“As soon as Rick told me about it, I thought it was a great idea.”
Frye said there is no possibility that Kahne will drive one of the team cars in any part of this year’s schedule.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
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