Kasey Kahne is expected to return to full-time NASCAR competition in 2027, with a move to Spire Motorsports that would take him back into an entire season of racing for the first time since 2018.
That is a notable development for a driver who announced in 2018 that the year would be his final full-time Cup Series season. Kahne, who is now 46, has largely stayed out of the NASCAR bubble since then, aside from a one-off return in 2025 at Rockingham Speedway in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
From Cup Series star to a surprise return
Kahne’s career path has included some of NASCAR’s biggest stages. He began his full-time Cup Series career in 2004 in the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge, then put together a career-high six wins in 2006 and finished eighth in the points standings.
He later drove the No. 9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2009 and 2010, moved to Red Bull Racing full-time in 2011 in the No. 4 Toyota, and joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. That same year, he won the Coca-Cola 600 and finished a career-best fourth in the points standings.
His final full-time Cup stretch still delivered a significant victory, with Kahne winning the Brickyard 400 in 2017 before being forced out of Hendrick Motorsports that same year. In 2018, he raced for Leavine Family Racing, but that season ended early because of health issues.
Why the 2027 move matters
The expected return is striking because it is not being framed as a one-off appearance or a ceremonial comeback. According to Jordan Bianchi, Kahne is expected to sign with Spire Motorsports and race one of the team’s Truck Series entries for the entire 2027 season.
That would put Kahne back into full-time competition after years away from regular NASCAR duty. For a driver whose retirement announcement in 2018 appeared to close the book on a full season, the 2027 plan would represent a genuine return to the grind of a championship campaign.
For Spire Motorsports, the move would add a familiar name with top-level experience across multiple eras of NASCAR. For Kahne, it would be a chance to re-enter the sport in a full-season role rather than simply making occasional appearances.
What happens next will depend on the deal being completed, but the direction is clear: Kasey Kahne is expected to be back on the grid full-time in 2027, this time in the Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports.
