SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Leavine Family Racing announced on Thursday night that Regan Smith will drive for the team in Sunday’s Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard as Kasey Kahne is suffering from lingering effects from extreme heat exhaustion following last weekend’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
Kahne is the defending champion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway winning last July’s race for Hendrick Motorsports, his last win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Following Sunday night’s race at Darlington, Kahne, 38, was taken to the track’s care center where he treated for heat exhaustion. This week, Kahne consulted with several physicians who recommended he sit out this weekend at Indianapolis until further testing and evaluations are completed.
Leavine Family Racing said in a statement that a timeframe to Kahne’s return to the No. 95 Chevrolet has not been established but will provide an update before next Sunday’s Cup Series Playoff opener at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.
Smith hasn’t competed in a Cup race since last year at Dover (Del.) International Speedway subbing for the then-injured Aric Almirola. In six starts at Indy, the Cato, N.Y. native has a best finish of third in 2011 driving for Furniture Row Racing.
WRL General Contractors will sponsor the LFR team in Sunday’s regular-season Cup finale.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
