Smith content with substitute role, for now

Regan Smith wants to be racing in NASCAR full-time, but right now he appreciates being the person teams call on when they're in need of a substitute driver.

This week, Smith will be on standby at Watkins Glen International for Denny Hamlin, who is expecting his second child with long-time girlfriend, Jordan Fish. Should it happen, it wouldn't be the first time Smith has been called into action this year.

In May, Smith drove the No. 43 at Charlotte (pictured below) and Dover after Aric Almirola was injured. Smith believes it's his experience at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series level (213 career starts) that makes him attractive to teams – although his stature doesn't hurt, either.

"I guess I'm a similar size and shape to a lot of drivers out there, so it's easy for me to be able to hop in most of these seats," Smith said. "There's only a couple I've struggled to do that. That accompanied with the experience."

With how many times Smith has been called upon, he joked there are only a few organizations left with cars he hasn't sat in. In addition to driving for Richard Petty Motorsports this year, Smith has filled in for Hendrick Motorsports (in 2012 for Dale Earnhardt Jr.); Stewart-Haas Racing (in 2014 for Tony Stewart and 2015 for Kurt Busch); and Chip Ganassi Racing (2015 for Kyle Larson).

Don't forget Smith was the primary driver for Furniture Row Racing from 2009 to 2012. He also spent the 2008 season with the now defunct Dale Earnhardt Inc. and ran eight races with Phoenix Racing in late 2012, early 2013.

"As I've done a bunch of these, I try to be as respectful to each place as I possibly can. If I get in somebody's car I'm probably learning something about that car or about that company that maybe it's something they don't want people to know or needs to stay with that team," Smith said of his various fill-in roles. "I've always done my best to be 100 percent respectful of that and not cross any barriers there.

"Some of it's just circumstances. If you're available and somebody is in need (they) go down the list and say, some guys have experience, and some guys don't. I've got that experience. You'd have to ask the teams for more of an absolute answer (as to why I get called), but I'm appreciative teams call. As I keep saying, I want to be back racing full-time, but in the meantime, it's nice to know people still appreciate your abilities on the racetrack."

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Until this year, Smith (pictured above, with Dale Earnhardt Jr.) had been full-time in the sport over the last few seasons. From 2013-'15 he ran for the Xfinity Series championship with JR Motorsports. Last year, Smith ran the full Cup Series schedule for Tommy Baldwin.

While he doesn't have a full-time ride this season, Smith has been competing on a limited basis in the Camping World Truck Series. But he's working hard to again find something permanent.

"All the time. Every day," said Smith. "The garage area is in a weird place right now with how deals happen and how deals get done. A lot of times the conversations you need to have don't necessarily have to happen in the garage, they need to happen outside of the racetrack. And finding unique ways to find partners you can get together with and do deals with, that's a big aspect of the sport right now. I don't think anybody can deny that.

"It's something I work on every day. I want to be back racing; I love racing, but I'm also enjoying the other stuff I'm doing. The cool part is I'm still a part of the sport between the TV and everything else that I've been doing. It's kind of kept me active in it, so I haven't really missed anybody; I just haven't had to travel quite as much this year, and I haven't gotten my fix on the racetrack as much as I'd like to. Outside of that, I'm still around doing a lot of stuff."