The Racing Blood

Letter From Kasey Kenneth Kahne, Junior

     I guess that looking back on it, I should have known that I wasn't who to blame. I never had any control over my car that day, and I let my mind get to me. I know that I didn't kill Eric, and I feel like his family has forgiven me. I have to deal with fans who will always blame me for his death, and I'll learn to handle that with a smile on my face. I'll always have that smile on my face because I deserve to smile.

     I'm the NASCAR Late Model Series Champion. I have the best parents in the entire world. I have a great girlfriend. I have great friends. My crew is the best. I deserve to be happy and perform my best for them. I need to continue my career for Dad, Mom, Jules, Uncle Kale, and the boys on the crew. I have to continue because I want to be the best in NASCAR. I want to be like Kasey Kenneth Kahne, Sr. I want to be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion like him. I want to make my dreams come true like he did.

     What could I have done differently that day? Nothing. I had no control over my car, just like I had no control over the downward spiral I had after the accident. However, I took control of my life and fixed myself. I did things that I'm not proud of. I attempted suicide. I freaked out on everyone who cared about me. I should have just thought it through, and I didn't. I'm really sorry for any problems that I caused anyone. Those are mistakes I made, but that's life. Those people who are important to me forgave me for my problems.

     Kasey Kahne Racing has offered me a truck for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series next year, and Dad and I are working closely on getting everything set up for Daytona. I'm moving forward in my life, and it's all because I learned to be a strong person. I'm a much stronger boy now. I'm sixteen years old now, and I've learned a lot about my life and the lives of others. I'm a NASCAR driver, and I take the risks for my own life. Every driver holds his or her own risk. I'm not going to blame myself any more. I'm going to do what I want to do with my life. That's what Eric Roop would want. He would want me to move through my career just like he would have. For him, myself, my family, and my friends, I will move on through NASCAR. I will let the racing blood in my veins take control of my life. I will be the race car driver that I always wanted to be. I will be Kasey Kenneth Kahne, Junior, known as K.J. I will drive because, in the end, NASCAR is what is in my blood.

Kasey Kenneth Kahne, Junior (K.J.)

Driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevy

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Pro Late Model Series