CONCORD, N.C. – Last Sunday, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. competed in their last race as teammates.
For Earnhardt, it was the final start of his career. For Kahne, it was his last start as a Hendrick Motorsports driver, and it marked the final ride for the No. 5 Chevrolet SS.
Kahne tweeted that it marked “the end of an era.”
With so much change in the air as the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season is in the rear-view mirror, Kahne looked back on his relationship with Earnhardt.
"Dale's always been a really good guy to me since I came into NASCAR and moved to Charlotte,” he said. “We've been friends, and he’s been a great teammate.”
Both drivers entered the Cup Series at a young age, and now they’re moving on to the next steps in their careers either in or nearing their 40s. Kahne noted how fun it’s been to grow up together in the sport.
“I've watched Dale change a ton over the years,” he said. “I've changed myself, probably, but I've been part of that whole swing and it's been pretty cool to be part of it.”
And as they enter the next phase, Kahne is grateful for the time he was able to spend with Earnhardt at Hendrick Motorsports.
“I really like Dale a lot,” he said. “We get along well and it was awesome to be his teammate.”