Report: Kasey Kahne to Race NASCAR Trucks Full-Time in 2027

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Kasey Kahne is reportedly going to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2027.

A report indicated Kahne is set to sign with Spire Motorsports to race for one of its NCTS entries for the full season next year. The deal is reportedly still being worked out. 

Kahne hasn't raced full-time in NASCAR since 2018 when his final full-time NASCAR Cup Series season ended with 11 races to go. His tenure at Leavine Family Racing ended after just 25 races, following six years with Hendrick Motorsports, due to health issues.

Kahne later detailed how he had issues with chronic, extreme heat exhaustion and severe dehydration that also resulted in elevated heart rates during three- or four-hour races. He also reportedly had issues with his vision and sweating that stood in the way of him racing effectively, not to mention safely. 

To Kahne's benefit, the average length of a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race is far less time. For instance, the longest NCTS race in series history is two hours, 48 minutes and 13 seconds, which was earlier this season at Naval Base Coronado near San Diego. 

Racing for under three hours will play into Kahne's zone he is capable of, which he showed when he raced in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series at Rockingham Speedway in April of 2025. It was his first NASCAR race since stepping away from the Cup Series in 2018. Kahne finished 14th despite damage and showed speed indicating he hadn't lost his way.

Kahne has an impeccable record in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In six career starts, he has five wins and a second-place finish. He has won at Darlington Raceway twice, in late-2004 and early-2011. He has also won once each at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2004, Rockingham Speedway in 2012 and Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2015. His second-place finish came at Pocono Raceway in 2010. 

Spire's NCTS lineup consists of no full-time drivers for either of their trucks this season. However, they have usually had young drivers race full-time for them, such as Rajah Caruth from 2024-25. Kahne would mark a departure from that but not from the series recently being where older drivers, like Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, come back to NASCAR.

Nothing has been confirmed regarding Kahne and Spire. An announcement is reportedly coming soon. Spire hasn't made any other lineup announcements for its 2027 NCTS lineup.