LINCOLN, Alabama – Kasey Kahne announced in August his intention to retire at the end of the 2018 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup series, but his last season has been cut short.

Struggling with health problems this season – especially severe dehydration and problems regulating his heart rate and body temperature during the race – Kahne announced Tuesday that he had not been medically allowed to finish the season.

"Apart from the race car, I am in perfect health and I feel great, and the doctors have determined that I have no underlying health problems," said the 38-year-old. Twitter.

"My body just can not stand long periods of time in the race car and we have not been able to control the rate of perspiration to keep me hydrated enough to prevent permanent damage to my body."

After 17 years in NASCAR – including 15 in the World Cup – Kahne's career in the race for stock cars is officially over and his peers are devastated for him.

"It's unfortunate that he can not come back," said Chase Elliott at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday. They were teammates in the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Hendrick Motorsports, where Kahne ran for six years before joining Leavine Family Racing in 2018.

"I hate the fact that he can not do it his way and he decides himself."

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Although Kahne had some dehydration and heartbeat problems in 2017, he explained in September that the situation was much more regular this season.

His problems escalated at Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway. Kahne said that he was so dehydrated that he could barely keep his eyes open during the race and that he was physically sick afterwards. He first missed the next race – the regular-season final on Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he was the title winner – because he was still recovering from heat exhaustion. But he has not raced in the # 95 Chevrolet since Darlington.

After learning that Kahne was ready for the season, his former teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr. praised him for "making an intelligent decision based on his doctor's advice."

In 15 seasons of cup series, Kahne has accumulated 18 wins in 529 starts. His last win was the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2017, and he also won NASCAR's longest race, the Coca-Cola 600, three times at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (2006, 2008, 2012).

Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. echoed the bitter-sweet reactions by saying that he had texted Kahne after hearing the news.

"I told him I was praying for his future and I hope everything will be a lot better," Wallace told Talladega Superspeedway. "Congratulations to him for defending his health and not being selfish. I would be selfish and I would like to drive.

But Kahne just ran in NASCAR.

He still plans to participate in speed car races – where he also owns the team – and his health is not a problem because the events are shorter and the cockpits open.

"I was just working with him (Thursday), and I know he really wanted to finish the year and try to run well until the end of his retirement," said Friday Ricky Stenhouse Jr. "I think he'll be very happy to race sprint cars."