SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Leavine Family Racing announced Thursday that defending Brickyard 400 winner Kasey Kahne will miss Sunday’s Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway due to the lingering effects from extreme heat exhaustion following the Southern 500.
Kahne went to the infield care center after finishing 24th this past Sunday at Darlington Raceway.
Kahne consulted several physicians who recommended that he sit out this weekend’s events at Indianapolis until further testing and evaluations are completed.
Regan Smith will drive the team’s No. 95 car this weekend. Smith has served as a fill-in driver in the past for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aric Almirola, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch. Smith, who has been working as a pit reporter for Fox Sports, last raced in Cup at Dover in June 2017 for an injured Almirola. Smith has one career Cup win in 213 starts.
Leavine Family Racing stated that a timeframe for Kahne’s return has not been set.
Kahne is scheduled to take part in a teleconference with reporters Friday morning to discuss his situation.
Kahne has previously announced this will be his final full-time season in NASCAR.
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