DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 5, 2012) – Regan Smith feels Saturday’s Sprint Cup race – the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway, has the makings of being a “wild and crazy” night at the historic short track.
“With all the different Chase scenarios, there’s plenty of excitement brewing heading into the final pre-Chase race,” said Smith. “Though I am not in contention for a Chase spot, I am still pumped about this weekend. My only focus is to run up front and fight for every attainable position in our Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet.”
Smith and the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing have been showing more muscle recently. The team is coming off a strong performance in Atlanta where it just missed its third top-10 finish in five races.
Smith was ensconced in ninth place with four laps remaining in Sunday’s night’s 500 miler at Atlanta, but a late caution sent the race into a two-lap overtime shootout. Smith, who had trouble on fresh tires all night, could not get up to speed on the final restart and fell back to a 14th-place finish.
“After seeing a top-10 slip away in Atlanta, I can’t wait to get back in the car and prove that we are capable of knocking off top-10s on a regular basis,” explained the 28-year-old Smith.
Smith feels all systems are ripe to post a career-best finish at the.75-mile oval. His best result in eight career starts at Richmond was 17th, which came in the 2011 spring race.
“Richmond would be an opportune time to showcase our potential by putting ourselves in position to run neck-and-neck with the Chase contenders,” said Smith.
Smith’s Career Cup Record at Richmond
St Fn 2008 26 21 29 23
2009 (Sept.) 35 40
2010 29 30 17 25
2011 2 17 23 18
2012 15 27
Smith’s 2012 Results Date Event St Fn Laps Status Prize Money Points Rank 2/27 Daytona 500 6 24 200/202 Running 357,034 21 23 3/4 Phoenix 3 20 311/312 Running 93,483 24/45 19 3/11 Las Vegas 28 15 267/267 Running 129,413 29/74 20 3/18 Bristol 6 24 496/500 Running 111,343 20/94 20 3/25 Fontana 22 20 128/129 Running 114,163 24/118 19 4/1 Martinsville 17 16 513/515 Running 106,343 28/146 18 4/14 Texas 26 23 332/334 Running 130,238 21/167 21 4/22 Kansas 29 24 263/267 Running 103,443 20/187 22 4/28 Richmond 15 27 398/400 Running 95,968 17/204 25 5/6 Talladega 31 40 15/194 Engine 87,275 4/208 27 5/12 Darlington 9 14 368/368 Running 117,488 30/238 26 5/27 Charlotte 10 17 398/400 Running 128,488 27/265 23 6/3 Dover 26 27 306/400 Running 103,702 17/282 25 6/10 Pocono 7 16 160/160 Running 101,393 28/310 24 6/17 Michigan 12 28 197/200 Running 87,160 16/326 25 6/24 Sonoma 31 32 109/112 Running 84,960 12/338 25 6/30 Kentucky 26 33 209/267 Accident 81,010 11/349 26 7/7 Daytona 25 34 133/160 Accident 96,555 10/359 26 7/15 N.Hampshire 17 26 298/301 Running 100,818 18/377 26 729 Indianapolis 14 18 160/160 Running 180,483 26/403 24 8/5 Pocono 11 9 98/98 Running 110,043 35/438 24 8/12 Watkins Glen 13 9 90/90 Running 107,568 35/473 23 8/19 Michigan 18 29 154/201 Running 96,507 15/488 23 8/25 Bristol 14 16 500/500 Running 125,813 28/516 23 9/2 Atlanta 27 14 327/327 Running 126,638 30/546 23 Avg. Start: 17.72 Avg. Finish: 22.20 Money: $2,977,329
No. 78 Over-the-Wall Crew Front-tire changer Shane Pipala, Frankfort Square, IL Front-tire carrier Jon Bernal, Holland, Mich. Rear-tire changer Coleman Dollarhide, Hickory, N.C. Rear-tire carrier Dwayne Moore, Griffin, Ga. Jackman Gabe Martin, Lake Wylie, S.C. Gasman Justin White, Lynnville, Tenn. 2nd Gasman Ryan Bergenty, Plainville, Conn. 7th Man/Windshield Todd Carmichael, Redding, Calif. _____________________________________________
No. 78 Road Crew Crew Chief Todd Berrier, Kernersville, N.C. Competition Director Mark McArdle, La Crosse, Wis. Car Chief Robert Huffman, Hickory, N.C. Engineers Cole Pearn, London, Ontario Matt Faulkner, Memphis, Tenn. Technical Director Phil Jimenez, Germantown, Tenn. Spotters Rick Carelli, Arvada, Colo. Clayton Hughes, Thomasville, N.C. Engine Specialist Scott Meesters, Hanford, Calif. Engine Builder Earnhardt-Childress Racing Shock Specialist Nick Kerlin, Old Fort, Ohio Tire Specialist Chad Krauch, Loveland, Colo. Technical Support Michael McCullough, Imperial, Calif. Mechanics Ryan Bergenty, Plainville, Conn. Todd Carmichael, Redding, Calif. Joe Kerrigan, Canon City, Colo.
Transportation Henry Benfield (also gas runner), Statesville, N.C. Jim Gilbert, Belleville, IL Dave Hicks, Montcalm, WVa. Chuck Lemay, DeKalb, IL John Slingerland, Sacramento, Calif. Dennis Valverde, Albuquerque, N.M.
