| Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne may | | | | the cars. I have a good relationship with everybody, |
| be lapping his competitors in the race for the Cup, | | | | so for me to leave, I wouldn't want to. At the same |
| but he will still be doing it in the number 9 Dodge car. | | | | time, I want to get a chance in some really good |
| Kahne said Friday he does not want to break his | | | | equipment, too, and I think that we're working on |
| contract and would like to remain with Richard Petty | | | | that and if we get there, I'll stay with RPM for a long |
| Motorsports beyond 2010, but he would also like to | | | | time." |
| see a boost in the company's NASCAR Sprint Cup | | | | Kahne says that his organization continues to play |
| performance. | | | | catch-up with NASCAR's new-model car, which |
| Since joining the team in 2004, what was then | | | | debuted full time in the series last season. While he |
| known as Evernham Motorsports, Kahne has endured | | | | sees improvement, he also sees other groups getting |
| ownership changes and transitions within the | | | | stronger. He adds that performance would "be my |
| organization over the years. The Washington-native | | | | only factor" should he decide to make a change and |
| enjoyed his most successful season in 2006, when he | | | | that closing the gap on the frontrunners is difficult, |
| earned six victories and finished eighth in the Cup | | | | but he is confident his team can continue to improve. |
| standings. Since then, Kahne has not made the field | | | | "We've made gains, but so has everybody else," he |
| for NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup any other | | | | said. "So we're still just as far behind Hendrick |
| season. | | | | Motorsports this year as we were last year, and the |
| This year, he is 10th in the standings but has not | | | | other teams in there that are really good. ... I don't |
| been a regular contender for wins against the | | | | think we're getting any further behind. We started |
| powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports and Roush | | | | out behind with the [car of tomorrow]. I remember |
| Fenway Racing groups. During his tenure, the Gillett | | | | people were testing it and we didn't even have one |
| family took over majority ownership of the team, | | | | in our garage yet because Ray [Evernham] didn't |
| and then last winter the group merged with Petty | | | | want to - I think it was Ray, we've went through a |
| Enterprises to create the new organization. | | | | lot of owners since then - and so we were behind at |
| Asked about his future with the organization, the | | | | that point. And ever since they started, boom, boom, |
| 29-year-old made it clear that he'd like to stay put. | | | | they keep getting better. ... We're always behind. It's |
| "I'm definitely not exploring other options," he said | | | | hard to take that huge jump." |
| Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. "I have | | | | Richard Petty Motorsports is expected to switch to |
| another year with Richard Petty Motorsports, the | | | | the new Dodge engine later this season. Penske |
| Gilletts have been good to me since I came here and | | | | Racing has already implemented the new engine and |
| I made a commitment to them to race for them | | | | Kahne expects to see a significant boost when his |
| through 2010, so I'll do that for sure. I've told them | | | | team makes the switch. |
| from the start that if we can get our cars to where | | | | "I think everybody's working hard and we're making |
| I feel they're right and we're competitive with the | | | | gains. We're just not closing that gap that we need |
| best teams out here, then I don't know why I would | | | | to be closing," said Kahne. "I want to get a chance to |
| ever want to move from that company. | | | | compete in some really good equipment," he said. |
| "I like the people, from the guys building the race | | | | "Were working on that and if we get there, I'll stay |
| cars in the shop, the engine guys, the guys painting | | | | with RPM. |