Spire Motorsports announced today Kasey Kahne, an 18-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner and one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers will return to NASCAR racing full time in 2027 and pilot Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado RST beginning with the February 19 NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series season opening Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
While Kahne has made just six-career starts in NASCAR’s Truck Series, the Enumclaw, Wash., native has visited Victory Lane in five of those appearances, including Chevrolet’s 200th Truck Series win in the 2015 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
“This is one of the coolest announcements we’ve been able to make,” said Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson. “Kasey is not only a legendary driver but is someone that Spire shares a long history with. Having him in one of our trucks running for a championship means a lot to our organization and we fully trust that he has the same competitive nature and drive to win that he’s always had.”
Kahne made his NASCAR national series debut in 2002 at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway for Robert Yates Racing and his first NASCAR Cup Series start in 2004 for Evernham Motorsports following the retirement of 1988 Cup Series Champion and 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Bill Elliott.
Kahne collected 18 wins across 15 seasons in NASCAR’s premier division, including three Coca-Cola 600 victories (2006, 2008, 2012) and a checkered flag in the 2017 Brickyard 400. Separately, he’s earned 27 pole positions, 93 top-five and 176 top-10 finishes. The 46-year-old driver holds claim to eight wins, 46 top fives and 87 top 10s in NASCAR’s AAA circuit, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
“When Jeff (Dickerson) first asked me about running trucks for Spire Motorsports, I didn’t think he was serious,” said Kahne. “To be out of the sport for as long as I was and to have the opportunity to race for a strong FedEx Freight Truck Series team, or even full time in NASCAR again, was a bit of a surprise. The thought of a return to pavement racing and involvement in something that I was a part of for so long was exciting. It started sounding pretty good and I’m thankful for the opportunity to come back with a team that knows how to win.”
Health issues forced Kahne to step away from NASCAR competition in 2018 but opened the door to a return to his roots, racing open-wheel cars, and a larger role with his own organization, Kasey Kahne Racing.
“I kept up with NASCAR enough to know that Spire wins races,” continued Kahne. “I saw Kyle Busch’s wins this year, I watched Rajah (Caruth) a lot last year and keep up with what he’s doing. I saw some of Corey Day’s races and Carson (Hocevar) when he won at Texas. I just thought that’s actually a really good truck and this could be a fun way to come back into NASCAR and reunite with Chevrolet, a manufacturer I had some really great moments with over the years.”
Kahne’s most recent NASCAR start, following six years removed from the sport, came behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro for the 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series rac
— Spire Motorsports —
See the original report of Kahne’s return here.