“To finally put it on and walk around in it - Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet on it, all things I’ve wanted to be a part of for a long time - it’s exciting and it gives you confidence,’’ said Kahne.
Kahne’s move is just one of many in the 2012 NASCAR season, which will get underway with tomorrow night’s Budweiser Shootout, a two-segment, 75-lap dash for cash among last season’s pole award winners.
In all, nine full-time drivers will be in new rides, eight of them paired with new crew chiefs.
The biggest switch is the departure of Darian Grubb as crew chief for reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. Grubb will work with driver Denny Hamlin, who parted ways with crew chief Mike Ford.
Stewart, meanwhile, will have Steve Addington, who worked last season at Penske Racing as Kurt Busch’s pit boss, on his No. 14 car.
Kahne was spared from having to break in a new crew chief when he was joined in his move to Hendrick by longtime chief Kenny Francis, along with four other crew members.
“He brings a lot to the table,’’ said Kahne. “So it is neat to see how much Hendrick Motorsports welcomed Kenny to the organization and how much he thinks of those guys as well. It’s been a great position that we have been in this offseason.’’
Kahne signed on with Hendrick in April 2010, but had to wait for a seat to open on the roster. One didn’t become available until this year, when veteran Mark Martin departed the No. 5 car to drive a limited Sprint Cup schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 55.
In the interim, Kahne felt a like a driver in exile. His career has taken one turbulent turn after another over the last four seasons, as the team he originally signed with, Evernham Motorsports, was restructured and became Gillett Evernham Motorsports before it merged with Richard Petty Motorsports.
