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Regan Smith to fill in for Aric Almirola in Coca-Cola 600

Nick Bromberg
·College football and motorsports writer
Smith finished fourth in the All-Star qualifying race last week. (Getty)
Smith finished fourth in the All-Star qualifying race last week. (Getty)

Regan Smith’s stint in the No. 43 car is continuing for another week.

Richard Petty Motorsports said Smith would drive for the injured Aric Almirola in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Almirola is likely out 2-3 months after he suffered a compression fracture to his T5 vertebra in a crash at Kansas Speedway on May 13.

Smith filled in for Almirola during qualifying for the All-Star Race last weekend. He finished fourth and failed to advance to the All-Star Race.

The 600 will be Smith’s first Cup Series points race since the season finale at Homestead in 2016. He drove for Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2016 but the team moved to a part-time schedule in 2017.

Smith has previously filled in for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch. His last substitute driver appearance came for current points leader Kyle Larson in April of 2015.


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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!