Auto | Enumclaw's Kasey Kahne intends to shop around for a new team

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw might be maxed out at RPM.

Kahne said he is strongly considering leaving Richard Petty Motorsports after his contract expires next season because of the instability surrounding the organization and will start shopping around for a new team in January.

Kahne has been disgruntled with many aspects of RPM this season, including a planned merger with Yates Racing that has yet to happen.

Kahne said the company needs to become focused and resolve its lingering issues in the offseason.

"The ups and downs of the team has made it difficult for me to really say, 'Man, I'm going to be here for 10 years,' " the 29-year-old Kahne said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"I really don't know what's going to happen."

Kahne said he has not heard from majority owner George Gillett Jr. about a new contract.

Kahne has given the struggling organization a boost this season, with two victories and a spot in NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup. He is in 10th place at NASCAR's highest level entering Sunday's finale.

"I don't feel like I need to be done racing for the year," Kahne said. "I'm still pretty excited at where we're at right now. ... I think the season needs to get over with for the management side of things and just figure out exactly what we're doing, get us pointed in the right direction so that the teams can start working and preparing for 2010."

The team has been plagued by problems since it was formed in January from the merger between Gillett-Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises.

RPM didn't have enough new engines for Kahne to use full time, and the team decided to shift from Dodge to Ford next season.

RPM fielded two fully funded cars all season — Kahne and Elliott Sadler. The team pieced together funding for AJ Allmendinger and Reed Sorenson, and both drivers have forfeited salary or race winnings to help keep their teams afloat.

Kahne took owner — and racing icon — Petty to victory lane for the first time in 364 races by winning on the road course at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in June.

It was the first time a Petty-owned car won a race since John Andretti triumphed in 1999. Kahne helped secure a spot in the 12-driver, 10-race Chase in early September when he won at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kahne said he realizes the offseason might not bring him enough answers.

"I used to try and stay in the loop, and then things don't happen that they say will," Kahne said. "It's up to them what happens. They do their things, and I'll do mine."

Johnson earns pole

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Jimmie Johnson's pursuit of his fourth consecutive Cup title starts from the pole.

Johnson turned a lap of 173.919 mph Friday to top qualifying at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a boost for the Hendrick Motorsports standout as he tries to become the first driver to win four consecutive championships at NASCAR's highest level.

Scott Speed qualified in second for the Ford 400 and Marcos Ambrose was third.

Earlier in the day, it was announced Johnson signed a contract extension to drive for Hendrick Motorsports through the 2015 season.

Johnson goes into Sunday's season finale with a 108-point lead over teammate Mark Martin and is assured of winning the title if he finishes 25th or better.

Note

• Kevin and Delana Harvick are a happy couple.

Kevin won the season-ending trucks-series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Delana, his wife, clinched champion-owner status when driver Ron Hornaday Jr. — who had already wrapped up his fourth trucks title — finished eighth in the Ford 200.