[ via Nascar.com/auto racing news ]

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Kasey Kahne is thinking about leaving Richard Petty Motorsports after his current contract expires.

The driver of the No. 9 car said Friday that he is keeping his options open for 2011, the year after his current deal with the RPM organization runs out. The George Gillett-owned team has undergone a number of mutations in recent years, including an absorption of Petty Enterprises prior to this season, and a planned merger with Yates Racing that will result in the team fielding Fords in 2010.

But beyond that, Kahne said he is looking elsewhere.

“Come January, I can start looking around. I can talk to other people,” he said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “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 have 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.”

Kahne qualified for the Chase this season, but blew an engine in the opening race at New Hampshire and was never a threat to win the title. The Washington state native has occasionally expressed frustration this season at the muddled management structure at RPM, which has yet to officially announce that the Yates deal has been completed.