Kasey Kahne will join Leavine Family Racing, drive No. 95 in 2018

One of the bigger Silly Season dominoes has now fallen, as Kasey Kahne knows where he’ll be driving in 2018.

Leavine Family Racing might not be the most well-known NASCAR team, but it’s poised to to take a step up in recognition and perhaps performance with Kasey Kahne in the fold next year.

As reported by Jayski, Leavine Family Racing announced today that Kahne will join the team next season to drive its No. 95 Chevrolet. The 37-year-old Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran had been looking for a ride since it was revealed he would not return to Hendrick Motorsports, which is essentially giving his seat to rising star William Byron (though Byron will drive the No. 24 and the 5 is going away).

A union between LFR and Kahne had been rumored for some time, though this year’s Brickyard 400 winner was mentioned as a possible candidate for just about every open or potentially open seat.

In the end, he appears confident he found the right fit.

"“I want to thank Leavine Family Racing for this opportunity and will work as hard as possible to help them continue improving. I am ready for this challenge and look forward to making a fresh start. Bob and everyone at Leavine Family Racing put a lot into their program and I’m excited to become a part of it.”"

The 95 team has a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing that will continue into the 2018 season. With Kahne coming in, the organization will say goodbye to current driver Michael McDowell — there had earlier been some buzz about LFR adding a second Cup Series car — who managed only one top-10 finish in 27 starts in 2017 but also recorded just one DNF.

Team owner Bob Leavine was careful not to make McDowell out as the reason for the switch.

"“Overall, we think Kasey is a good fit and felt we needed a change. There is absolutely nothing that Michael (McDowell) did, it was just a matter of us having to make some changes to help us move up the ladder and be a factor in the playoffs. I know Kasey will bring things that will help us, and I believe our environment will be conducive to his confidence level, which will in turn raise our confidence level. It just seemed like the right time and the right fit for our team.”"

Kahne is no stranger to switching teams, having driven at the Cup Series level for Evernham Motorsports, its successor, Gillett Evenrham Motorsports, Richard Petty Motorsports and Red Bull Racing Team before arriving at Hendrick for the 2012 season. He’s also driven for all three current manufacturers plus Dodge during his career at stock car racing’s top level.

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For now, Kahne is still alive in the NASCAR playoffs, and will concentrate on an unlikely run at the Cup Series championship. While he’ll finish out the current campaign in the 5, at least he’ll do it without having the burden of uncertainty over his next move lifted from his shoulders.