Kahne content now? How about Harvick's status?

Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

CONCORD, N.C. – The 2010 Sprint Cup free-agent class may be shrinking. Or at least reassessing.

Kasey Kahne said he prefers to remain with longtime crew chief Kenny Francis and Richard Petty Motorsports despite three years of nearly constant changes in ownership, teammates and now manufacturers. Foster Gillett, son of owner, George Gillett, said keeping Kahne is the team's "top priority." And the 29-year-old, 11-race-winner that an offer has already been made.

Kurt Busch had an option picked up by Penske Racing and the 2004 Sprint Cup champion is a few incomplete details from returning to a team with which he finished fourth in the 2009 standings.

Kyle Busch agreed to a multiyear new deal with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Kevin Harvick's status is a little trickier. The 34-year-old is hoping and waiting for performance improvements at Richard Childress Racing and surveying options. The team owner, meanwhile, acknowledged that their relationship became strained last summer as RCR slogged through a team-wide slump.

"I have a lot of respect for Kevin Harvick and all he's done for RCR," Childress said of the two-time Nationwide Series champion, who had the difficult assignment of replacing Dale Earnhardt in 2001. "If the opportunity – when the time is right – (is there) for us to sit down, then we will."

Harvick, who finished fourth in points in 2006 and 2008, was 19th last year. He said he would not dwell on the contract situation and vowed not to be "disrespectful."

"If it ends, I want it to end peacefully," he said.

Kahne, 29, said he will listen to outside offers but said he was comfortable in his five-year working relationship with Francis. He said that has insulated him from the litany of change and suggested that a strong year at RPM could prompt him to stay.

"It's about performance and how well we run," he said. "I'm in a neat position, because I feel like I've worked really hard for the first six years of my career and given everything that I have. And I'm going to do it again this year, and figure out where I want to be after that. But I think this could be one of my best years yet."

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