Kahne says rumors not distracting

Kasey Kahne

Having his name become grist for the NASCAR rumor mill isn't taking a toll on #5-Kasey Kahne. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was linked to a report about the future of Kevin Harvick that was debunked Thursday when Harvick signed a long-term extension with Stewart-Haas Racing. Harvick said Friday he had told Kahne two months ago that he hadn't been contacted by anyone at Hendrick. Kahne said he had gotten acclimated to the speculation. "Those rumors have been out for a while now," he said.

"It hasn't been distracting to me. I've been kind of fine with it because I know where I'm at. I know I have a deal through 2018. So it is what it is. People can come up with different ways to have a story, I guess. I think it was a story, and it probably worked out well for Harvick to have that going on once in a while." NBC Sports