Stewart-Haas planning on Regan Smith driving in Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Stewart-Haas Racing says it’s going ahead with plans for Regan Smith to be in the Daytona 500 instead of Kurt Busch.
Smith is listed as the substitute driver for Busch, who was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Friday after a Delaware county commissioner said it was “more likely than not” that Busch committed an act of abuse against ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll. The decision came after Driscoll was granted a protective order against Busch after a hearing regarding the allegations of abuse in September at Dover.
Busch is currently filing an appeal against NASCAR that will be heard Saturday. When asked if Smith would be the driver of the No. 41 Chevrolet regardless of the results of Saturday’s appeal, Stewart-Haas Racing spokesperson Mike Arning said, “Stewart Haas Racing is planning on having Regan Smith race in the No. 41 car in the Daytona 500.”
No criminal charges have been decided in the incident. The Delaware attorney general’s office has the evidence and has not made an announcement.
Smith, who currently drives in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, has become somewhat of a substitute for the stars at Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing. He first was a last-minute sub for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2012 after Junior suffered a concussion and missed two races and then last year for Tony Stewart at Watkins Glen after Stewart struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. at a dirt track in upstate New York.
“I would say anytime you have a chance to hop in a race car that you know is fast and know is more than capable of winning races, it’s always an opportunity to showcase talent,” Smith said. “No matter what the circumstances or situations are, you’ve got to always think that way and got to always be prepared that way. So, yeah, I think we have a shot to go out and win this race on Sunday. I absolutely think we do.”
Smith, 31, has one Sprint Cup Series win on his resumé. He won in 2011 at Darlington while driving for Furniture Row Racing. He drove for the majority of 2012 with the team before he essentially traded rides with Busch in anticipation of the 2013 season. Busch was signed to drive for Furniture Row in 2013 while Smith drove the final two races of 2012 and six races in 2013 with Phoenix Racing, Busch’s team in 2012.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
