Phoenix Racing says no plans to put Kasey Kahne in Cup car

If Kasey Kahne is driving the No. 9 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2011, it's news to team owner James Finch.

Finch said on Tuesday he has not spoken with Rick Hendrick in regards to fielding a car for Kahne.

Hendrick Motorsports announced on April 14 that Kahne would drive the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in 2012. Kahne's plans for 2011, however, remain unresolved.

Finch, who was fishing off the coast of Panama City, said reports of Kahne driving for Phoenix Racing came "straight from the Sports Illustrated story" and no one had reached him for comment.

"I'd like to do it, but I have not been contacted by Rick or anyone else at Hendrick Motorsports about Kasey Kahne," Finch said. "We are fielding a car for Jan Magnussen this weekend at Sonoma with sponsorship from Hendrickcars.com. But I won't be there."

Finch said he read a story where the scenario was a surprise to Kahne as well. Finch says he has plans to go fishing with Hendrick in the next few weeks, but "there's nothing to (the story) as of yet."

As for the rumor of Mark Martin purchasing Phoenix Racing, Finch said he spoke to the fellow Floridian "a couple of months ago when Mark was trying to sell his old plane" but the two have not talked since. FOXSports.com reported in April that Finch was placing Phoenix Racing on the selling block.

"With this economy no one is buying anything, much less a race team," Finch added.