Kahne Under the Weather, Keller to Stand By

Kasey Kahne ran the fastest lap in Saturday afternoon's final practice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but that doesn't mean he's up to running 267 of those on Sunday afternoon.

The Enumclaw, Wash.-driver has been battling sinus infection symptoms all weekend, and as a result, longtime Nationwide Series veteran Jason Keller will stand by on pit road for the UAW-Dodge 400 to get in the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge if need be.

From ESPN.com:

LAS VEGAS -- Kasey Kahne was suffering through a sinus infection Saturday, but the illness didn't stop him from posting the fastest lap in Happy Hour.

[...]

"After the first [Cup] practice, we knew we might do something to allow Kasey the time to get better for Sunday's race," said Mark McArdle, vice president of competition for GEM. "He's been taking fluids and getting plenty of rest."

Kahne opted not run in Saturday's Nationwide Series Sam's Town 300 in the No. 9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports car due to his condition, and instead, GEM teammate Patrick Carpentier took the wheel.

That may have been a good move considering the incredible amount of sheet metal torn up in the Nationwide race. Carpentier brought the Dodge home 8th.

Kahne, if he starts the race (which I imagine he will for points), will roll off the grid in 37th-place.