Minus Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 engine lasts only 61 laps

• Regan Smith was subbing for Earnhardt, who is out two races with concussion symptoms
• Another Hendrick engine, Ryan Newman's, had problems in Friday's Sprint Cup practice
• Smith gets another shot with Hendrick next week at Kansas Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed his first Sprint Cup race Saturday after 461 consecutive starts.

The driver who replaced him in the No. 88 Chevrolet had a mostly uneventful evening, too.

Regan Smith completed 61 laps (of a scheduled 334) before an engine failure knocked him out of the Bank of America 500.

Smith, who will substitute for Earnhardt at Kansas Speedway again next week, started 26th but drove quickly into the top 10. Not long before the motor expired, Smith zoomed past Kurt Busch, who was making his debut in the No. 78 Chevy that Smith had driven since 2009.

"The important part was that we had a really fast car," Smith said. "We had a good first adjustment and needed one more stop, and I think we would have had it dialed in. It's disappointing. It's a good team, a good car and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports does a great job. I'm looking forward to next week."

It was the second motor problem of the weekend for Hendrick Motorsports. Ryan Newman started from the rear Saturday after changing an engine in practice Friday. Smith said the team had to examine the data to diagnose the malfunction but said he "probably over revved a little on pit road."

As Smith brought the car to the pits, crew chief Steve Letarte radioed to the driver: "You did a great job, great job. You proved you could race with these guys."

Smith had only two days to work with the team after Earnhardt's Thursday announcement that he'd be sidelined for two weeks with a concussion. With two days of testing scheduled at Kansas because of repaving, he'll have plenty of laps to get acclimated to the crew this week.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I feel confident we'll have the same speed we had here."

Earnhardt is expected to be cleared to return to the car for the Oct. 28 race at Martinsville Speedway.