Our series of weekly NASCAR driver interviews continues with Kasey Kahne, who is currently 18th in the Sprint Cup Series standings heading into Martinsville Speedway. USA TODAY Sports spoke with Kahne before Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway, where he was involved in an incident with Danica Patrick.
Q: What is an errand or chore in your daily life people might be surprised to learn you do yourself?
A: I take out the garbage. We have probably a quarter-mile driveway or something, so I gotta take it out there. But that’s only every Thursday. Aside from that, it would probably be blowing off the driveway and decks and the garage during the week to keep everything clean.
So why are you out there with the leaf blower yourself instead of hiring someone to do it?
I mean, I have a company that mows the grass and they do some of the blowing also. But if you want it perfect, you’ve got to do it yourself.
Q: If you could do any race over again, which race would you choose?
A: It’s tough. I’d have to go back a ways to find something worthwhile. (Thinks for a moment) I’d say Las Vegas 2013. Matt Kenseth beat me. There was a restart and I got hit from behind, and it ruined the bumper on the left side of my car. So the car quit turning as well and I ended up second to Kenseth.
I’d go back to that restart, position myself in a different place so I didn’t get hit from behind and win that race. Because we had easily the best car that day and finished second.
Q: The longest race of the year is 600 miles. How long of a race could you physically handle without a driver change? Like could you do a 1,000-mile race?
A: I sleep really good after a 600-miler – even a 500-miler. Your eyes start getting really tired, the longer you have to focus for that period of time. And then you lose fluids. So I think you could do 1,000 miles, but it would be painful. I don’t think you’d care to do it very often. A 600-miler is cool because it’s once a year and it’s different, so you look forward to it. If we had a couple of them, it wouldn’t be nearly as cool.
Q: Let’s say president of NASCAR was an elected position voted on by the drivers – and you decided to run. What would one of your campaign promises be?
A: That practice won’t start before 10 a.m. They don’t mean anything when they’re before 10 a.m., so I’d make sure they don’t happen anymore.
Q: At the start of this year, exactly 2,900 drivers had ever raced in the Sprint Cup Series. Where do you rank among those 2,900?
A: That’s tough. How many do you think there have been since I started in Cup (in 2004)? You’d have to think not that many.
That’s a good question. Maybe 300 or 400? (Note: According to NASCAR, the number is actually 198.)
OK, so if it’s 300 or 400, I think I’d be in the top 15 of that on an average day; certainly better than that on a good day. So multiply that out (for each era) and I’d be around 150th?
Well, it depends. Many people would say this era has more competitive drivers than 40 or 50 years ago.
Yeah. Early on, there were a few drivers who were badass and then no one else. No one else could compare to them.
So maybe I’m like 100th. I’d be No. 100. It’s just a guess.
PHOTOS: Behind the wheel with Kasey Kahne
Q: What do you think your reputation is – and is that reputation accurate?
A: I would say my reputation is I’m a pretty nice guy who enjoys racing – and I’d say that’s pretty accurate.
Q: A famous chef wants you to invest in the new restaurant he’s opening, but he wants you to pick the cuisine. What type of food would your restaurant serve?
A: See, that’s really tough because I love food. I love Mexican food, but if you’re going to have a famous chef do it, you’re probably not going to have Mexican food. Fancy Mexican would be great, but I’d rather have a famous chef do something with fish – a variety of fish combinations as the main course.
Really good seafood is about unbeatable if it’s really good. So if you had the right guy doing it and it would always be perfect, I’d go with that.
Q: Last year, your question for the next interview was good enough that I thought it was worth including on this year’s list of 12 Questions. So now I’ll turn it around on you: What is the most daring thing you’ve done outside of racing?
A: I went bungee jumping – this was a long time ago. I jumped off a bridge at home (in Washington). I doubt it was that safe. That was pretty crazy.
Q: In a move to generate more excitement, NASCAR decides in an upcoming race they’re going to require every driver to have a passenger in the car. You get to pick the passenger. Who do you choose?
A: I’d want to bring my dad (Kelly), because then he could see what all is thrown at you in a race and what you go through. He’d be able to feel all the same things I’m feeling. He’s been really heavily involved with my career forever, so for him to go through a race with me would be pretty awesome.
Q: How often do you talk inside the car without hitting the radio button?
A: More often in the last couple years. I used to push the button and just say what was on my mind. In the last couple years, I do a lot of talking inside the car and then sometimes I push the button.
Seems like a veteran move.
There’s too many people listening these days. Then you put people down and say things you really don’t mean, and it always comes off the wrong way when you’re in the heat of battle. And even when it comes off the right way, it doesn’t make sense to the majority of the audience.
Then they play it on TV and you have a bunch of fires to put out.
Exactly.
Q: Who will win the Sprint Cup in 2021?
A: Ryan Blaney.
Q: I’ve been asking each driver to give me a question for the next interview. Last week was Martin Truex Jr., and he wanted to know: What is the best part of your job and the worst part of your job?
A: The best part of my job is being part of Hendrick Motorsports. The worst part of my job is being slow; when you’re slow, those are by far my worst days. It’s worse than any autograph session or anything you can imagine we’d have to do. Being slow is the worst.
And do you have a question for the next interview? It will be with Lesa France Kennedy, the CEO of International Speedway Corp. and vice chairperson of NASCAR.
Yeah, my question would be about the (Cup Series) sponsor for next year. I’m excited to know who it is. When does she think we’ll know that?
Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck
