Kahne scratches NASCAR itch with Xfinity return at Rockingham

Nearly seven years removed from a successful NASCAR Cup Series career, Kasey Kahne grew nostalgic for pavement racing.

It wasn’t just a whim. The 45-year-old from Enumclaw, Wash., actively worked on a deal to drive in Saturday’s North Carolina Education Lottery 250 Presented by Black’s Tire NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway (4pm ET on CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Over the last year, I’ve been watching (NASCAR) more and more and wanting to see what it was like again and get those feelings that I had for so many years,” Kahne said. “That’s why I put this together. I did this all on my own so I could get back here and do this race.

“I was very fortunate to get Hendrick Cars and Caravan Trailers and Curb Records behind me. Then RCR (Richard Childress Racing) wanted to do it with us. So it’s been a really cool partnership, but I put some work in to make it happen.”

Kahne is driving the No. 33 RCR Chevrolet with Andy Street as his crew chief.

Kahne’s NASCAR national series career began with a Xfinity Series start at Rockingham in 2002. Over the next 16 years, he accumulated 18 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, eight in the Xfinity Series and five in the Craftsman Truck Series.

The grind of racing every week, however, took a toll on Kahne’s health, and after the 2018 season, he left the sport.

“As far as my health, I’m in a good place right now, because I don’t do this all the time,” said Kahne, who has maintained his competitive chops as a driver and team owner at the highest level of 410 sprint car racing.

“I don’t do the long races — it got worse as soon as the summer months came and every week after that it was draining me those last couple years I did it. So I saw 88 degrees (for Saturday’s race), and I thought, ‘That’s nice. I’m fine with that. I’m looking forward to it.’”

Kahne was 18th fastest in final Xfinity Series practice on Friday.