NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Elliott Sadler continues his part-time Truck Series role with Kevin Harvick Inc. this weekend. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

RPM employees are still working out of their shop in Statesville, N.C., and likely will move to the Yates shop in Concord, N.C. (next to Roush Fenway) during the next few months.

“They’re still not in the same shop [as us],” Edwards said. “We’re separate teams. For me to be able to have another guy of Kasey Kahne’s caliber to go and talk to about stuff, [and] his crew chief, maybe we’ll be able to share some stuff with them. That would be huge.

“The big thing right now is to show Kasey that we can do well enough, and that Ford is the company to be with, [and] get him to stay to help make our team strong in the long run.”

Sadler and Allmendinger drove Fords in select races at the end of 2009. Allmendinger finished in the top 13 in the final three races in a Ford.

“We have the same core group of guys that were on the 9 car,” said Kahne, who finished 10th in the standings last year. “We have a little bit different body with the Ford body. We have a different group of people we’re working with, a touch more power.

“To me, it’s a little bit of a bonus. I’m looking forward to it. But our cars will drive the same way they did last year really. … It’s been a pretty crazy offseason trying to get the cars built, trying to get familiar with the new surroundings.”

Sadler said the company is working hard on the conversion of cars.

“Everybody’s excited to get to Daytona, but we still need a little bit more time,” Sadler said. “We’re building new cars, trying to get everything as prepared as we can so when we leave to go down for the 500 we have our Vegas and Atlanta cars and California cars and all the stuff done [for the following month].”

While there was speculation that Sadler would have a different crew chief this year, Wally Rogers will remain. Rogers took over the job last August.

“He learned a lot on the go, week in and week out, the way he was thrown in the position,” Sadler said. “He’s had a whole winter to gather his thoughts, play with a lot of stuff on simulation programs, especially the different ones that Ford uses compared to the ones we had.

“So I’m really happy with the progress he feels like he’s made as a crew chief going to Daytona. It should be fun.”

SceneDaily.com • Kelloggs to sponsor Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing in 2010