Regan Smith will replace Kurt Busch in the No. 41

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Regan Smith will replace Kurt Busch in the No. 41 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing as the interim driver for the Daytona 500, the team confirmed Friday night.

SHR said Smith will race Sunday in the 57th running of the Great American Race regardless of the outcome of Busch's appeal of an indefinite suspension imposed by NASCAR Friday evening.

A Delaware family court judge ruled that a preponderance of evidence from a protective order hearing showed Busch "committed an act of domestic violence" against his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll at Dover International Speedway last September. NASCAR issued its suspension after Kent County (Del.) commissioner David Jones released his written opinion earlier Friday.

It's unclear who will drive the No. 41 next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway and beyond.

Smith, 31, is an Xfinity Series regular but has significant Cup experience.

Smith, a native of New York and a resident of Troutman, N.C., also has solid experience as a substitute driver -- including with SHR.

He drove Tony Stewart's No. 14 Sprint Cup car last season at Watkins Glen International after Stewart's sprint-car short-track accident that resulted in the death of driver Kevin Ward Jr. Smith finished 37th at the Glen.

In 2012, Smith substituted twice in the Cup series for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was recovering from a concussion.

Smith scored his lone Cup win in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in 2011 while driving for Furniture Row Racing, now home to driver Martin Truex Jr.

Smith has been an Xfinity Series power since joining JR Motorsports. He finished second to teammate Chase Elliott in the Xfinity (then Nationwide) Series point standings last season and was third in 2013.

Smith has four Xfinity wins — one in 2012, two in '13 and one last year. His first series win was scored at Homestead-Miami Speedway in '12.

Smith was involved in a touch of controversy in 2008. He took the checkered flag first in a crowded finish in the fall Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway, but NASCAR officials ruled that he had passed below the track's inner yellow line, penalized him and awarded the victory to Stewart. Smith, who disagreed with the decision, was dropped to 18th.

He was named the Sprint Cup rookie of the year that season.