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As Kurt Busch appeals, Regan Smith gets ready

In this Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015 photo, Kurt Busch stands in his garage during a practice session for the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. In a stunning move just two days before the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR suspended Busch indefinitely on Friday, Feb. 20, after a judge said the former champion almost surely strangled and beat an ex-girlfriend last fall and there was a "substantial likelihood" of more domestic violence from him in the future. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
In this Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015 photo, Kurt Busch stands in his garage during a practice session for the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. In a stunning move just two days before the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR suspended Busch indefinitely on Friday, Feb. 20, after a judge said the former champion almost surely strangled and beat an ex-girlfriend last fall and there was a "substantial likelihood" of more domestic violence from him in the future. (AP Photo/Terry Renna) In this Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015 photo, Kurt Busch stands in his garage during a practice session for the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. In a stunning move just two days before the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR suspended Busch indefinitely on Friday, Feb. 20, after a judge said the former champion almost surely strangled and beat an ex-girlfriend last fall and there was a "substantial likelihood" of more domestic violence from him in the future. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

By Associated Press 1 min read

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Regan Smith has started what will be a busy day at Daytona International Speedway.

Just hours after being named the replacement for suspended Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kurt Busch, Smith was getting fitted for the seat and trying to get up to speed with the team. He was one of the first drivers on track for the final practice before the Daytona 500.

Smith also is driving in the Xfinity season opener later in the day.

Busch was suspended indefinitely Friday after a judge said the 2004 Cup champion almost surely choked and beat a former girlfriend last fall. The suspension came two days before the Daytona 500, prompting Chevrolet to cut ties with Busch and leading Stewart-Haas to switch to Smith.

Busch has appealed, and the hearing begins Saturday at noon at NASCAR headquarters.