Kahne's persona not what the average fan may think

Just when you think you know a person ...

Kasey Kahne, arguably the sport's most attractive driver, even dreamy by some standards, has had the great fortune, or if you ask him misfortune, of carrying NASCAR's pretty boy label throughout his nearly five-year Sprint Cup career.

Perceived by some fans to be a high-maintenance, product-in-the-hair-wearing superstar worthy of his own entourage, Kahne's persona is the contrary and actually what his high-profile sponsor hoped it would be: A man's man, a Bud man even.

Someone who calls the guys over for a pick-up game in the driveway, someone who still has an old-school beer bong tucked away in the basement for, ahem, nostalgic reasons, and someone whose daily uniform consists of jeans and a fresh white tee.

Fans are quick to believe the driver, sitting eighth in the Sprint Cup standings, has only one side but the guy is like an onion -- he has layers.

Yes he has an entourage, but it doesn't include the likes of bottle-dyed blondes like Paris Hilton or Manhattan moguls living in swanky high-rise condos.

He rolls in a posse about 10 deep and most of the members have names beginning with the letter K: his younger brother Kale who works for Kasey Kahne Racing's World of Outlaws team; his cousin Kole, who is the No. 9 Cup team spotter; and don't forget Kobe, the toddler keeping the gang on their toes.

Life in the Kahne lane is one of strong family connectivity. The driver and his entire immediate family work together to keep Kahne's racing enterprise operating smoothly, from merchandise sales and the fan club to the USAC team and Kahne's charitable foundation.

"It works well because you can always count on family. We all have been there for each other; we all treat each other well as employees. But at the end of the day, we try to come together and be family," said Shanon Adams, Kahne's elder sister and general manger.

Most Mondays you can find the gang gathered at Kahne's Lake Norman home preparing a meal and maybe planning their annual end-of-the season family vacation.

This year they will have to factor in Eli, Kahne's soon-to-be 1-year-old nephew.

From the moment he was born, Kahne has been plotting and planning for the day he can buy the boy his first motorized vehicle.

"He's awesome," said the 28-year-old Kahne. "It's hard because he's still so young, he doesn't really know who I am and couldn't care less about me. He just wants Shanon or his dad Jarrod." (Continued)