“I think a fresh start is nice,” Kahne said Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. “It’s a fresh start all the way around. It’s not just a different owner, or different manufacturer. I think it’ll be really good for me.

“It’s probably the first time maybe ever that it’s fresh, completely new in all aspects.”

After six seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, Kahne is moving to Leavine Family Racing next season, a one-car operation that made great strides over the last season.

The team announced a two-year deal on Friday with Procore, a construction project management software company founded in 2003, with headquarters in Carpinteria, Calif. The company will serve as primary sponsor on the No. 95 Chevrolet for six races in 2018 and 2019.

Transitioning to new LFR

As of now, Kahne, 37, has a one-year deal with LFR through the 2018 season.

Only a short stint into the offseason, Kahne said he already felt things were already going “better than expected” at LFR.

“The group of people that I’m working with, the way they have worked with me. What I see out of them and the process of getting the new Camaro ready, working with (Richard Childress Racing), I just feel like it’s better than I expected when I signed up, and I thought it was going to be pretty darn good when I signed up,” he said.

“I don’t think I will have to adjust my expectations at all. As a company, yes obviously, Hendrick can go out and look at more options. As far as a team that’s working strictly for me and my needs, I haven’t had that in years.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

No hard feelings

Travis Mack, who spent last season as car chief on Hendrick’s No 88 Chevrolet team, will serve as Kahne’s crew chief next season. The organization is also continuing its technical alliance with RCR.

Kahne said he had no hard feelings leaving HMS.

“I told all my guys that I wish the results would have been better the last three years there and, you know, I think if the results were better, I would still be there,” he said. “But the results weren’t good and that’s been hard to understand where there like lies or why but that’s just the way it is.

“I’ve moved on, they’ve moved on and that’s all perfectly fine. I don’t have any bad feelings at all. I think Mr. H (Rick Hendrick) is a great guy. All those guys on my team put in a huge effort.

“I’m glad that I moved on because what we were doing there was not working for me. So, to have that part of it over with, is great.”