Kahne's rookie honors marked with collectibles

Was there ever any real doubt that Kasey Kahne would nail down the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of The Year award?

Granted, Brendan Gaughan had a few flashes of brilliance during the year. But with five runner-up finishes and another handful of near-misses, the hard-charging Kahne is a win waiting to happen.

And on the way to the top, Kahne became the most-collected rookie since Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2000 -- a fact that isn't lost on the flying freshman.

"It's really neat," said Kahne. "To walk through the garage or look up into the stands and see people wearing my hats and t-shirts, or to have someone ask me to sign one of my die-casts, is so neat.

"It's not something I ever really thought about until it happened, but it's great. It is cool to go out to the truck and sign autographs. Everybody is yelling and having fun with it. It's a great way to interact with fans and thank them for their support."

You can bet the coming months will bring plenty of collectibles celebrating Kahne's award. Action Performance, which recently inked a long-term agreement with Kahne, is already offering a cap and tee-shirt through the company's Chase Authentics brand. Those items are now available through the NASCAR.com Superstore.

"Kasey's dedication to racing and his good-natured personality translate to the fans who watch him perform on the track every week, and they like what they see," said Action president, chairman and CEO Fred Wagenhals.

"He signs autographs and does all of the things that build a fan base one person at a time."

More Rookie of The Year collectibles -- including die-casts-are likely from Action and other licensees. Count on NASCAR.COM Collectibles to keep you informed of new products as they become available.