About Kasey

Retiring from full-time NASCAR competition in 2018, Kasey Kahne returned to his roots focusing his on-track time to dirt sprint car racing with the World of Outlaws.

Kahne’s NASCAR accomplishments over his 15-year career include 18 wins in the Cup Series, 93 top-five finishes, 176 top-10 finishes, and 27 pole positions. Kahne also earned prestigious wins with three Coca-Cola 600s in 2006, 2008 and 2012, and the Brickyard 400 in 2017. Kahne also found victory lane eight times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and five times in the NASCAR Gander Mountain Outdoor Series.

Kahne began racing open wheel sprint cars at Deming Speedway at 14 in Deming, Washington, before eventually moving into the USAC ranks. In 2000, Kahne slipped behind the wheel of the same cars that had won USAC titles for Stewart and Gordon and by the end of the year Kahne himself was a USAC Midget champion. When NASCAR came calling, he jumped at the chance.

Kahne made his Cup debut in 2004 after replacing Bill Elliott in the No. 9 Dodge for Evernham Motorsports and surprised many by nearly winning several races (including five second-place finishes and 13 top five’s), winning four poles and capturing the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. He narrowly missed the Chase for the Nextel Cup after Jeremy Mayfield, his teammate, claimed the final spot.

Following stints at Richard Petty Motorsports and Red Bull Racing, Kahne moved to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012 and finished fourth in the championship standings that season. During the 2017 race season, Kahne qualified for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and finished the season 15th in points with one win, three top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes.

One of Kahne’s passions is the Kasey Kahne Foundation, which he formed in 2005 to focus on giving back to children. In 2006, he was selected by President George W. Bush to serve on the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Through his foundation work, the Enumclaw, Washington, native partnered with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on “The Drive” golf tournament in Cle Elum, Washington, to raise funds for The Strong Against Cancer initiative on behalf of the Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 2016, Kahne and Wilson donated over $1,000,000 to the hospital. Kahne has also supported the Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish, Victory Junction, Boys & Girls Club and other charitable organizations. In 2013, Kahne was featured on ESPN’s Emmy Award-winning “My Wish” series after granting a wish to 12-year-old Rylee Durham who has Noonan syndrome.

An advocate of healthy lifestyles, Kahne’s rigorous fitness regimen has been chronicled by national outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Runner’s World, Men’s Journal and ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue.” In addition, Kahne has appeared on national television shows such as “Blaze and the Monster Machines,” “LIVE! With Regis and Kelly,” CMT’s “Cribs,” “E! News,” “Family Guy,” “Nick Sports,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Larry King Live,” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” Among others, he has been featured in Sports Illustrated, People, Road and Track, and Parade magazines. The past three years, through Hendrick Motorsports partner Great Clips’ relationship with Discovery Channel, Kahne has participated in the popular “Shark Week” programming.

Kahne fuses his racing interests with his entrepreneurial spirit via his own company, Kasey Kahne Racing. The Mooresville, North Carolina, team was formed in 2005 and employs more than 12 people dedicated to fielding sprint car entries in the World of Outlaws series for himself and 2018 Knoxville Nationals Champion, Brad Sweet. In 2013, KKR’s No. 9 team driven by Daryn Pittman won the WOO title, making Kahne a first-time champion team owner.

In 2019 Kahne won his second-career World of Outlaws Championship as an owner, this time behind the efforts of driver Brad Sweet and NAPA AUTO PARTS. Winning 16 races throughout the season, the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 team earned the championship on the final night of the 90+ race season.

2020 saw KKR earn their third-career Championship as Sweet went back-to-back after a shortened and ever challenging season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his personal life, Kahne became a father to son Tanner in October 2015. To relax, the driver enjoys working outdoors and maintaining the property around his home near Charlotte and spending time with Tanner.