Get your snacks ready because a legend is heading back to the track. Kasey Kahne is officially coming out of retirement. He is not just doing a one-off race, either. He is going full-time in the NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series for Spire Motorsports in 2027.
This news was confirmed on Wednesday by both Kahne and the Spire team. It is a huge shock for anyone who thought he was done after 2018. He has been away from full-time NASCAR racing for about nine years. The 46-year-old driver will take over the No. 77 Chevrolet next year.
The Surprise Offer at Knoxville
This whole deal started with a random chat at the Knoxville Nationals last August. Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson approached Kahne with an idea. According to Yahoo Sports, Kahne was actually shocked when Dickerson made the pitch. Kahne said, “He was like, ‘Yeah, we want you to come and run full-time.’ I was like, ‘Full-time?’ It was a big surprise to me,” per Yahoo Sports.
It is easy to see why he said yes. The stats on his truck racing past are wild. According to Yahoo Sports, Kahne has claimed victory in five out of his six Truck Series career appearances. He even has an average finish of 1.2 in those trucks. You cannot ignore that kind of talent. He also talked to his girlfriend, Amy Long, about the move. Kahne told Yahoo Sports, “I got excited pretty quick. Talked to Amy a lot about it and this makes a lot of sense. We’re excited to do that.”
A Smart Move for His Health
I love seeing a veteran find a way back. Kahne left the Cup Series because his body could not handle the heat and the long races. He had issues with his heart rate and body temperature during the 2018 season. He told Yahoo Sports, “The long Cup races throughout a full season, I just couldn’t handle that anymore, and that’s why I had to get out of the sport when I did.”
The Truck Series is a much better fit for him now. These races are shorter and often happen at night. This helps him stay cool. Kahne told Yahoo Sports that his health is “in a good place because I don’t do this all the time. I don’t do the long races, the heat.” He also noted that there are better ways to stay cool in the cars today than when he raced in the Cup Series. It is a smart way to use his skills without pushing his body too far. He knows there is a “big learning curve” ahead since he does not know the current drivers well, but he thinks it will be a strong season.
Spire Motorsports is making a massive statement here. They are not just hiring a driver; they are bringing back a winner. Jeff Dickerson said, “This is one of the coolest announcements we’ve been able to make,” per Yahoo Sports. Bringing an 18-time Cup winner to the Truck Series changes the whole vibe of the 2027 season.
I think this is a win for the fans, too. We get to see a great talent compete again. Kahne keeps racing in Dirt as a primary focus, competing with World of Outlaws and High Limit Racing. He plans to run about 26 to 28 sprint car events next year.