Photo: Sam Cranston
SPLASH ’N‘ GOwith RANTING & RACING KASEY’S UP TO BAT
CUTLER: Remember a few years ago when Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was jumping to Hendrick Motorsports? He basically said that the move to Hendrick meant he was out of excuses. At HMS, he would have the equipment and support necessary to win races and, ultimately, championships. Cute Little Kasey Kahne (CLKK) now fi nds himself in exactly the same situation. No more excuses.
BASS: I don’t think Kasey is going to need excuses. T at’s because I remember a few years farther back when Kahne fi rst came into Cup with Ray Evernham. When Ray signed him, Kasey hadn’t even won a Nationwide Series race. He hadn’t had a single Cup start to get his feet wet. He jumped straight into a full Cup schedule and was a revelation right from
the start — fi nishing second twice and third in the three races after the season-opening Daytona 500. He ended his rookie season with 13 top-fi ves. You don’t do that without worlds of talent. Rick Hendrick is just getting ready to unleash Kasey on the rest of the garage.
CUTLER: I concede that CLKK came out of the gate with guns a blazin’ and metaphors a mixin’, but he has not been able to maintain that performance. I know, I know, he’s been saddled with mediocre equipment. Save it, sister. Long before the implosion of the Evernham empire, CLKK was inconsistent. He followed up with a disappointing 2005 — fi ve top-fi ves and 23rd in the point standings. T en, a great 2006 followed by a lousy 2007. T e Gilletts didn’t start screwing everything up until later.
BASS: Ah, but we learn from the tough times, don’t we, Cutler? Yes, there has been some inconsistency, but I think the move to Hendrick will help. Kasey’s also got a ton of experience to go with his talent — he’s closing in on 300 Cup starts. No, it’s not a slam-dunk, but then again it doesn’t take any guts to predict success for Jimmie Johnson.
CUTLER: I will concede that CLKK has managed to wring better performance out of the Red Bull stuff than any of the other yahoos they’ve had over there, but I fear that he may
just shine by comparison — big fi sh in a bad race team. I’m not saying that CLKK can’t win races and make the Chase again. All I’m saying is that like Dale Jr., if he doesn’t, he will no longer be able to blame it on crappy equipment, organizational turmoil or lack of R&D.
BASS: But unlike Junior, at least Kasey won’t have to worry about the fate of the free world riding on his performance — no matter what happens when he gets to Hendrick.
Bass Masters and Buzz Cutler are writers and ranters extraordinaire for
Rowdy.com.
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