Kasey Kahne's eyes are beginning to wander from RPM

We're inside 48 hours from the final race of the season, and with the drama all but squeezed out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, we're forced to look elsewhere for our storylines of interest.

So thank you, Kasey Kahne, for giftwrapping this one for us. Kahne, as you know, is one of the most talented drivers on the track but one who's often suffered because of equipment that doesn't measure up to his skill level. He's entering the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, and after this exchange during Friday's media session, it sure sounds like he'll be joining the coveted free agent class of 2010: 

How much will you try and stay in the loop with RPM management on what's going on?

Kahne: I use to try and stay in the loop and then things don't happen that they say will. At this point, I have one year left (on my RPM contract). I want to do the best job for Richard Petty Motorsports in my final year. It's up to them what happens. They do their thing and I'll do mine. All I can do is make myself better at driving race cars and communicating with Kenny Francis. If I do that, I'll be happy next season.

So you'll try and look elsewhere next year?

Kahne: Yeah.

Regardless of what happens next year, will next year be your last year with RPM?

Kahne: That's hard to say. Come January, I can start looking around; I can talk to other people. I would imagine the Gilletts are going to talk to me at that point. But as of right now, the Gilletts haven't talked to me and I'm just kind of doing my job, doing the best that I can through the end of the season. The ups and downs of the team has made it difficult for me to really say, 'Man, I'm going to be here for 10 more years.' I really don't know what's going to happen. Truthfully, I don't know what's going to happen right now.

Yeah, those don't sound like the words of a guy who's enamored of his current team, do they? If Kasey were to jump ship next year, he'd join the most stocked free-agent class in NASCAR history -- Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kurt Busch all also have contracts expiring at the end of next year. And while several of those guys won't ever take a sniff at the open market, some will -- and that's going to make 2010 a yearlong Silly Season.

Plenty of NASCAR observers have said they'd love to see what Kahne could do in top-flight equipment. Before long, he might just get his chance.