NASCAR Cup Series: Regan Smith to replace Kasey Kahne in 2018 Brickyard 400

Regan Smith is set to replace Kasey Kahne in this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard.

It was recently revealed that Leavine Family Racing’s Kasey Kahne will not be competing in this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, which is the 2018 regular season finale. This race, the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard, was won by Kahne last year in what ended up being his sixth and final victory in his six seasons driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

However, Kahne will not attempt to defend his Brickyard 400 title in the 160-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in Speedway, Indiana this weekend.

Several physicians reportedly recommended that the 38-year-old Enumclaw, Washington native sit out this weekend’s race after suffering the lingering effects of extreme heat exhaustion following this past Sunday’s Cup Series race, the Bojangles’ Southern 500, at Darlington Raceway. Kahne went to the infield car center after this race came to a close.

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But while Kahne is not set to drive it, the #95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet is still set to be driven in the Brickyard 400, as Regan Smith is set to replace him in this race.

Smith, the 34-year-old Cato, New York native who has driven in the Cup Series since the 2007 season, typically on a part-time basis, has not driven in a Cup Series race since he drove in the race at Dover International Speedway last June when he replaced the injured Aric Almirola, who broke his back in a crash at Kansas Speedway a few weeks prior. Smith’s start in this race was his second of two starts as Almirola’s replacement least year, as he also competed in the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.

Smith has driven in at least one Cup Series race each season since the 2007 season. In 213 career starts, he has earned one victory, four top five finishes and 13 top 10 finishes. His lone victory came in the 2011 season, which was his third of five seasons as a full-time driver. He won the race at Darlington Raceway that year.

How will Regan Smith perform in his first NASCAR Cup Series start in over one year? Tune in to NBC Sports Network at 2:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, September 9 for the live broadcast of the 2018 Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard to find out.