Kasey Kahne miss NASCAR Dover race, still waiting for answers on his fight against dehydration

Kasey Kahne will not return to the NASCAR Monster Energy Series this weekend, as the veteran driver continues to face a puzzling dehydration illness.

Regan Smith will drive the # 95 Chevrolet Leavine Family Racing again at Dover International Speedway, his fifth consecutive race as a replacement for Kahne.

Kahne has not run since the Darlington Raceway in September, when his hydration problems became so severe that he called for medical attention after the race and in the weeks that followed. Kahne participated in a private test Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway hoping to return.

The test was necessary because the doctors had to simulate the conditions that caused its hydration problems.

"Kasey Kahne will continue to not compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series this weekend when the series will travel to Dover International Speedway," said LFR in a statement. "Kahne participated in a private medical test session Tuesday afternoon with his doctors while they continued to assess his condition as a result of a case of extreme heat exhaustion on the Darlington Raceway.

Regan Smith will again be the team's replacement driver for the Dover race weekend at the wheel of the # 95 Camaro ZL1.

Leavine Family Racing continues to work with Kahne and his medical team and will provide an update following the Dover Race Weekend. "

Kahne is expected to retire from the NASCAR competition full time at the end of the season. Smith finished 20th, 12th, 31st and 15th since taking charge.

Matt Weaver

– Matt Weaver is associate editor of motorsports at Autoweek. Before becoming a journalist, he was a short track cheeseburger amateur runner.

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