CONCORD, N.C. – This October, Kasey Kahne participated in his sixth annual Five Kahne 5K presented by Great Clips.
The 3.1-mile race serves as a signature event for the Kasey Kahne Foundation, which has a goal of raising funds to donate to charities supporting chronically ill children and their families.
It’s no coincidence that the fundraising effort Kahne chose involved a race – and staying in shape.
“First off, I enjoy running -- I enjoy running 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathon, whatever it may be,” he said.
In-season, the driver uses that type of exercise to stay sharp from week to week.
“Depending on where my body’s at is how I train,” Kahne explained just before the Chase began. “Right now I’ve been actually feeling really good, so I’ve been lifting upper, lower, running, biking, swimming -- been doing a little bit of everything."
The driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet SS noted that when he is especially sore, he typically sticks to strictly running.
“It just kind of depends on my body and where it’s at from racing,” he said. “But when it’s good I try to train a lot no matter what time of season it is – I enjoy it all.”
And he has used that passion not only to stay in shape during a taxing season, but to help children and families in need through his foundation’s 5K.
The fundraising efforts, in addition to supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, have allowed nearly 5,000 children in North Carolina the opportunity to receive free field trips to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
"The other drivers, owners and volunteers come and help out and support and you need all of that to make a foundation right and to put smiles on kids’ faces," Kahne said. "We have been really fortunate to have that and it makes you feel good and it makes you want to keep building the program and making it better and better.”