Kahne provides Hendrick with a bridge to the future (cont'd)

Kahne, who last spoke to the media Friday at Phoenix International Raceway, gave no inkling that a decision would be imminent. "I would say it is just too far away," he said when asked about his contract situation. But he clearly wanted to get it over with: "I can definitely see it becoming a distraction for myself, my team and my sponsors," he added. "You always have to be looking ahead, that is just part of this sport. I need to have something done prior to June."

Make that prior to May. No question, this is a massive blow to RPM, which loses the most successful and marketable driver in its stable, and is in dire need of an A-lister to round out a post-Kahne roster that (barring any changes) includes A.J. Allmendinger, Paul Menard and Elliott Sadler. But for Kahne, the opportunity to drive for the sport's best team is an absolute no-brainer, even if it might make the remainder of this season somewhat awkward, even if his immediate future is a little clouded. For Hendrick, the signing is even bigger -- it secures a driver who is a bridge to the organization's future.

As good as Hendrick is, before Tuesday there was no obvious line of succession in its driver lineup. The team's development program was shut down years ago, after the executives who managed it were among the 10 people who lost their lives in the tragic airplane crash in southwest Virginia in 2004. Results at JR Motorsports, the Nationwide program co-owned by Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr., among others, have been varied -- Danica Patrick is a work in progress, Kelly Bires was replaced, Brad Keselowski was ready to go Sprint Cup racing before a seat at the big table became available. Hendrick's sole focus right now is winning titles at NASCAR's highest level, which doesn't leave much room for grooming future stars.

To a certain degree, Kahne helps alleviate that. He's four years younger than the next-oldest driver on the Hendrick roster, having turned 30 on the day of the Phoenix race. As successful as Jimmie Johnson is with four consecutive titles at 34, he's a guy who doesn't compete in Nationwide, doesn't own his own race team, and isn't likely to hang around the garage any longer than he has to. As great as Jeff Gordon is at 38, he has a second child on the way and is maybe five or six years from retirement, according to a recent USA Today story. As much of a commercial powerhouse as Dale Earnhardt Jr. is, he's been through an awful lot in his 35 years. And then there's Mark Martin, a title contender still at 51. All of them are racers absolutely capable of winning races and championships. None of them are kids anymore.

Then there's Kahne, who'll be all of 31 when he steps into that No. 5 car for the 2012 Daytona 500, and provides Hendrick with a perfect foil for the kiddie corps over at Joe Gibbs Racing -- which currently boasts three uber-skilled hotshoes under 30 who together could one day own the Sprint Cup tour the way Johnson, Martin, and Gordon owned it last year. Make no mistake about it, Kahne is good now, good enough to win a championship with the right kind of equipment underneath him. But his relative youth is the key here. His youth is what makes him able to wait a year to step into a ride that's the envy of the garage area. His youth is what makes him so valuable, even to a franchise that's enjoyed so much success over the past four years.

Really, he's a perfect fit. Kahne's polite, understated manner meshes seamlessly with an organization where everyone says and does the right things. He'll look great in one of those white button-down-collar shirts that have become as much a part of the Hendrick identity as trophies and championship banners. And as the future of Hendrick Motorsports, he'll be able to wear one for a long time.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.

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