Kasey Kahne's struggles aren't a cause for concern -- yet

NASCAR Fans keep asking, ‘What’s wrong with the No. 5 car?’

Yes, the Kasey Kahne slump is curious. And while I could offer the same smartass answer I’ve been given since joining the beat, ‘If we knew, we would fix it.’

But is it really ever that easy?

Here’s a quick review. Kahne finished 31st at Daytona after he was collected in two wrecks and has been fighting back from that deficit ever since. In 13 races, however, he’s posted just one top five finish and four top 10s. He’s currently 18th in the point standings after finishing 19th, one lap down at Dover. Although Kahne qualified 17th, he moved into the top five by Lap 222 but for ninth time this season, didn’t lead a lap in a race.

Sure, there are a lot of drivers that would love to be among the top 20 in the Sprint Cup Series, but they don't drive for Rick Hendrick. When your teammates are Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. – three of the nine drivers that have won races in 2014 – it makes the deficiencies appear stark in comparison.

Either Gordon or Earnhardt have led the point standings 10 of the first 13 weeks of the season. Prior to the No. 24 Chevy’s handling going away at the end of the Fed Ex 400 and finishing 15th, Gordon led the tour for the last six races. Kahne’s three teammates remain in the top five in points.

So, what’s wrong with the No. 5 car?

Despite the promise Kahne showed early in his career, he’s really just had one stand out season – 2006. In his first full year with Kenny Francis and team engineer Keith Rodden, Kahne won six of his 16 Cup victories and finished eighth in the point standings. In the seven seasons since, Kahne, 34, has qualified for three Chases and posted 10 wins.

His career-high point finish of fourth was earned his first year at Hendrick Motorsports and came after four DNFs in the first 15 races. But Kahne countered that with wins at Charlotte and New Hampshire – where HMS is testing this week – and rebounded to ninth-place in the standings before the Chase began.

So, what’s wrong with the No. 5 car?

Last year, Kahne scored two wins and finished 12th in the Chase. Since then, NASCAR made significant changes to the Generation 6 car that even Hendrick Motorsports’ top crew chief Chad Knaus had difficulty adapting to. While Francis is one of the shrewdest crew chiefs in the garage, it’s clear the loss of Rodden, who went on to lead the No. 1 Ganassi Racing team and Jamie McMurray, has been felt. Chris Spaulding, who has been with the No. 5 team for the last two years and a long-time Hendrick employees, is attempting to fill the void.

Finally, throughout the course of Kahne’s career he’s never been consistent. In his 11th full season of competition, Kahne’s average finish is 17.3. This year his average finish is 17.5, so Kahne’s not really far off from his norm.

At Kansas Speedway I asked Francis whether it was true Kahne had asked for a new crew chief. At that point, Francis had not heard the rumor but replied, “Maybe it’s time.” Yes, this pair has been together for eight seasons, but I still believe Francis is the right man for the job.

For the legion of Kahne fans consider this, Earnhardt Jr. has been with the organization since 2008, but scored just three wins and has qualified for just three Chases since joining Hendrick Motorsports six-and-a-half years ago. Yes, he's consistent now, but it didn't happen overnight.

June is a great month for Kahne. Although Kahne’s last win came 28 races ago, it was at Pocono Raceway the site of this weekend’s Cup event where he’s visited Victory Lane twice. Nine of Kahne’s career Cup wins came in Race 14 or later in the season. He also has wins at the next two tracks – Michigan International Speedway and Sonoma Raceway – and his best average finish (8.7) at any track is Kentucky Speedway the last race of this month.

If Kahne is in this same position come July, then it might be time for concern. For now, just give it time.