Fan favorite Kasey Kahne admits he misses NASCAR, gives update on future plans

This April, Kahne made his first NASCAR start in seven years at Rockingham — and now he wants more

An 18-time race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, Kasey Kahne's career abruptly ended in 2018 after suffering extreme heat exhaustion as his body struggled to properly keep him cool inside the race car.

Since then, he's been competing in dozens of shorter sprint car races, but no lengthy stock car racing events. That changed earlier this year when NASCAR returned to Rockingham, a track Kahne loves. He finished second in the last-ever Cup race at 'The Rock' in 2004, and won the last Rockingham revival with the Truck Series in 2012.

Joining forces with Richard Childress Racing, it was like the 45-year-old never left, posting some of the most competitive speeds of anyone in the NASCAR Xfinity Series field. Starting fourth, he remained near the front for the early portion of the event. Unfortunately, he could not avoid the spinning Katherine Legge and damaged the right-front of his machine, ending his shot at the win. Undeterred, he soldiered on with the wounded No. 33 Chevrolet, finishing an impressive 14th in the high-attrition race.

Austin Green, Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet, Kasey Kahne, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

Now, everyone wants to know what is next for Kahne. He is at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, serving as the honorary pace car driver for Sunday's Cup race. While there, he spoke with the NASCAR on FOX team, giving an update on if he has any plans to run more races in the future.

Referencing Rockingham, Kahne said "it definitely did" make him want to run more NASCAR races, but it doesn't sound like has has anything concrete at the moment.

"I had a blast driving, and those cars are great to drive," said Kahne. "So Rockingham, they did an awesome job on the repave. It was a lot of fun. I think, you know, would there be a chance to fit a race in again this year, maybe next ... who knows?"

Kahne also gave his picks to win Sunday's Cup race at Texas, pointing at Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney as his drivers to watch. And while there's no set date for his next NASCAR appearance, Kahne is keeping busy with his sprint car career. He revealed that he's put over 100,000 miles on his motorhome in the last few years.

And after spending the weekend at TMS, Kahne admits that he does miss the weekly grind, but what he misses more than anything is the racing itself.

"I think driving the cars [is what I miss the most]. Definitely just driving the cars. Like every week, you're just trying to figure out how to be better and what you can do as a driver with the team .. like how it all works to be better. I miss that side of it to be sure."