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What’s new in NASCAR 2018: New drivers, teams, numbers and more

By Nick Tylwalk

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 31: William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet during testing for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 31, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for NASCAR)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 31: William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet during testing for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 31, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for NASCAR) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 24: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image has been converted to black and white.) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne poses for a portrait during the NASCAR Media Day at Charlotte Convention Center on January 24, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 24: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image has been converted to black and white.) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne poses for a portrait during the NASCAR Media Day at Charlotte Convention Center on January 24, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Kasey Kahne

What’s new: Looking for some redemption with the 95 team.

If you want to root for a driver with a fully justified chip on his shoulder, Kahne could very well be your guy in 2018. Despite ending a lengthy winless drought at the Brickyard and qualifying for the NASCAR Playoffs, he was unceremoniously shown the door at Hendrick Motorsports, shuffled aside in favor of a much younger driver.

At 37, Kahne figures he still has some good racing ahead of him, so he’s opting not to follow Matt Kenseth and others into retirement and starting a new chapter of his career with Leavine Family Racing. He should be an improvement over Michael McDowell (though there are plenty of observers who think McDowell was being held back by his equipment, not vice versa), but by how much?

It would rank as a pretty big upset if Kahne wins any races and returns to the playoffs. But if he does, it will but the Leavine team on the map and serve as the kind of vindication only sports can provide. We’d certainly be here for that.

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