Work Life of NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne wears a lot of hats. One of them just happens to be a helmet inside a stock car. When the NASCAR driver isn’t speeding around a track at 160mph, he’s running his own entrepreneurial venture Kasey Kahne Racing, a sprint car racing team he founded in 2005. On top of all of that is the Kasey Kahne Foundation, the philanthropic branch of his business dedicated to helping support chronically ill and disadvantaged children and their families.

This Sunday is the 6th annual Five Kahne 5K and Kasey’s not only running it, he’s wagering a friendly bet with every single of one of the race’s expected 500 participants. “For me, it’s just about putting a smile on kids’ faces,” he said. But this year there’s more on the line than that. For every participant that beats Kasey’s finish time, he’ll donate $105 to the Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital.

Kasey says he hasn’t been running nearly as much as he used to, but you’ll still have to put in work to beat him. He says he expects to run about a 7-minute mile pace and is prepared to fork over some cash. “I know there are going to be a lot of people who beat me,” he said. “It should get interesting.” (Agenda readers can register here with discount code CHARLOTTEAGENDA.)

I caught up with Kasey to learn more about how he moves through his nontraditional work day as a race car driver, business owner and philanthropist.

Here’s how Kasey works

Job title:

Race Car Driver

Office location:

Kasey Kahne Racing, 265 Cayuga Drive, Mooresville NC

Commute (how and how long?):

18 minutes by car along country back roads

Phone Type:

iPhone 6

Desk:

Computer:

Macbook

Gadgets you can’t live without:

Phone, sunglasses, Aquafina… I’m always drinking water. And running shoes. [Writer’s note: Temperatures inside the cars can reach 150 degrees and NASCAR drivers can lose up to 12 pounds water weight in a race.]

Do you listen to music while you work?

Half the time yes and half the time no. I mostly listen to country, especially Kip Moore.

What software are you a power user of?

None?

What’s your favorite spot for a business lunch? Your order?

Chicken fajitas at The Prickly Pear

Social media habits:

I like social media a lot. I definitely use Instagram the most but I still check Twitter a lot. I have Snapchat but just use that with my friends. Social media is a good way to connect with fans. It’s fun when the racing is good and not so fun when it’s not.

To-do list manager:

I have the calendar on my phone at all times. Lisa [Backer, his manager] runs it all.

What everyday thing are you really good at?

Cleaning… and laundry.

Best time-saving shortcut or Charlotte life hack (other than driving 160mph):

The fully completed I-485 helped me out a ton to get to Hendrick and the airport and Uptown Charlotte from where I live.

Sleep routine:

7 hours, preferably not much less but I don’t need more. I tend stay up late. Last night I went to bed at midnight. It’s usually sometime between midnight and 1 a.m.

Where do you go around Charlotte to get away from the office?

Honestly, just going home out in the country where it’s quiet is my escape.

What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

I didn’t have breakfast so I had a bag of Cheez-Its. Well, it was at 9:30 a.m. so I guess that was breakfast. Breakfast of champions.

What’s the last book you read and why?

I can’t remember the name of it but it was a book about engineering and aerodynamics and geometry as it applies to race cars. 

If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing?

I think I would be building homes. I’ve always been really into seeing things come together. When you build, you get to see your progress. My grandpa built homes when I was younger so I think that’s what I’d want to do.

Connect with Kasey Kahne

Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

(Photo credit: Photos from Kasey Kahne’s website and Facebook page.)