Kasey Kahne is back as a full-time NASCAR driver.
The 46-year-old is expected to sign with Spire Motorsports to race full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series for the 2027 season, The Athletic reported on Oct. 2.
Spire has had multiple entries in Truck races this season, with a rotating cast of drivers in the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets.
Spire purchased Kyle Busch Motorsports from the namesake owner in 2023. Busch raced a part-time schedule for Spire up until his death in May 2026.
The team has already announced 16-year-old Tristan McKee as a driver for next season in an "expanded schedule".
Kahne was a full-time Cup Series driver from 2004-18. He replaced the retiring Bill Elliott at Evernham Motorsports in 2004 to begin his Cup career, then joined
Red Bull Racing for a season before a six-year stint at Hendrick Motorsports.
Kahne cited health issues for his NASCAR retirement in 2018.
The Washington native has 18 career Cup Series wins, including a six-win season in 2006. He has five career Truck Series wins, but never ran in the series full-time.
Kahne had a single-race deal with Richard Childress Racing for an O'Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Rockingham in 2025, his first NASCAR race since retiring in 2018. Since his NASCAR retirement, Kahne owns a dirt-racing team and has competed in World of Outlaws and High Limit racing.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kasey Kahne returning to NASCAR, joins Spire full-time in Truck Series for 2027 per report
