DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 26, 2012) – When you mention Dover International Speedway to Regan Smith, he lights up with excitement. He always has a glowing review for the all-concrete oval, known as the Monster Mile.
“Dover is one of my favorite racetracks, I love racing there,” stated Smith. “I guess if you look at my Dover record you wouldn’t think I would have these likeable feelings about the track. But I do, and feel that we had some good runs at Dover recently, but either got caught up in an accident or had mechanical problems.”
Smith’s aim in Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover will be to drive the No. 78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet to his best Sprint Cup finish at the one-mile circuit.
In nine starts at Dover, Smith’s best result of 17th came in last year’s fall race.
“Let’s just say if we don’t better that mark of 17th, I would be disappointed,” noted Smith.
In two of the last three races at Dover, Smith had a solid run going, but a broken track bar mount (June 2011) and a multicar accident (June 2012) spoiled any chance of collecting a strong finish.
“I just know our Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet can produce at this track, but you need to avoid those major issues,” explained the 29-year-old Smith.
Smith, who is 23rd in driver points, is coming off a 16th-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“New Hampshire was one of those races where we had a decent result, but struggled for most of the race with handling problems,” said Smith. “We’re so close to making it happen and that gets a little frustrating. If we can put it all together at Dover then I am confident of securing one of our best results of the season.”
But before Furniture Row Racing takes on the Monster Mile in Sunday’s race, Smith says that a strong qualifying effort will be high on the priority list.
“You can get lapped early on this track and that’s why starting up front is so important,” stated Smith.
Prior to last week’s New Hampshire race, Smith had consecutive top-10 qualifying efforts of third in Richmond and seventh in Chicago.
Smith’s Dover International Speedway Sprint Cup Results
St Fn 2008 29 21 26 37
2009 33 22 33 32
2010 37 24 18 26
2011 11 34 16 17
2012 26 27
Smith’s 2012 Results No. Date Event St Fn Laps Status Prize Money Points Rank 1 2/27 Daytona 6 24 200/202 Running 357,034 21 23 2 ¾ Phoenix 3 20 311/312 Running 93,483 24/45 19 3 3/11 Las Vegas 28 15 267/267 Running 129,413 29/74 20 4 3/18 Bristol 6 24 496/500 Running 111,343 20/94 20 5 3/25 Fontana 22 20 128/129 Running 114,163 24/118 19 6 4/1 Martinsville 17 16 513/515 Running 106,343 28/146 18 7 4/14 Texas 26 23 332/334 Running 130,238 21/167 21 8 4/22 Kansas 29 24 263/267 Running 103,443 20/187 22 9 4/28 Richmond 15 27 398/400 Running 95,968 17/204 25 10 5/6 Talladega 31 40 15/194 Engine 87,275 4/208 27 11 5/12 Darlington 9 14 368/368 Running 117,488 30/238 26 12 5/27 Charlotte 10 17 398/400 Running 128,488 27/265 23 13 6/3 Dover 26 27 306/400 Running 103,702 17/282 25 14 6/10 Pocono 7 16 160/160 Running 101,393 28/310 24 15 6/17 Michigan 12 28 197/200 Running 87,160 16/326 25 16 6/24 Sonoma 31 32 109/112 Running 84,960 12/338 25 17 6/30 Kentucky 26 33 209/267 Accident 81,010 11/349 26 18 7/7 Daytona 25 34 133/160 Accident 96,555 10/359 26 19 7/15 N Hamp 17 26 298/301 Running 100,818 18/377 26 20 729 Indianapolis 14 18 160/160 Running 180,483 26/403 24 21 8/5 Pocono 11 9 98/98 Running 110,043 35/438 24 22 8/12 Watkins Glen 13 9 90/90 Running 107,568 35/473 23 23 8/19 Michigan 18 29 154/201 Running 96,507 15/488 23 24 8/25 Bristol 14 16 500/500 Running 125,813 28/516 23 25 9/2 Atlanta 27 14 327/327 Running 126,638 30/546 23 26 9/8 Richmond 3 24 398/400 Running 101,293 20/566 23 27 916 Chicago 7 34 197/267 Engine 91,730 10/576 23 28 9/23 N Hamp 22 16 300/300 Running 107,818 28/604 23
Avg. Start: 16.96 Avg. Finish: 22.46 Money: $3,278,170
No. 78 Over-the-Wall Crew Front-tire changer Shane Pipala, Frankfort Square, IL Front-tire carrier Andy Brown, Lander, Pa. 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.
