Reports have AJ Allmendinger stepping into the James Finch ride at CMS:
Allmendinger returns due to Smith subbing for Earnhardt Jr. at Charlotte
Story by: Nancy Knapp Schilke
Motorsports.com
Due to the concussion that Dale Earnhardt Jr. sustained in the big crash at Talladega in the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, the team needed to find a substitute driver for this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Hendrick was able to sign-up Regan Smith for the Charlotte 500.
That opened the door for AJ Allmendinger to return to competition after he successfully completed the Road to Recovery program. The former Penske Racing Dodge driver was suspended by NASCAR for testing positive for amphetamines during a random NASCAR drug test. On September 18th, he was cleared to race again in any of the NASCAR-owned series.
Many expected Allmendinger to be sidelined for the rest of the season, but now he will be back behind the wheel of the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet.
Earnhardt Jr. will also miss Kansas but at this time, the Hendrick team has yet to name the driver for the Kansas Speedway race.
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updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM