Regan Smith will be back in the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.
Smith will fill in once again for the injured Aric Almirola after driving the No. 43 in last weekend’s Monster Energy Open at Charlotte.
Almirola is currently recovering from a compression fracture of his T5 vertebra following a horrific crash in the May 13 Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. During a press conference May 19 at Charlotte, Almirola said doctors are estimating that it would take 8-12 weeks to fully recover.
Smith has 11 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at the 1.