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CSX Transportation Joins Furniture Row Racing

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

CSX Transportation Joins Furniture Row Racing as Associate Sponsor

Chevrolet, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers Renew Associate Roles

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 25, 2012) â€“ Coming off its most competitive season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Furniture Row Racing is enjoying similar success on the sponsorship side with the addition of CSX Transportation and its railroad crossing and pedestrian safety campaign for the 2012 season.

CSX Transportation, the largest railroad in the East and third largest in the United States, joins Chevrolet and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers in the associate sponsorship role with all three companies complementing the teamâ€™s primary sponsors â€“ Furniture Row and Denver Mattress.

"Having a new associate sponsorship arrangement with CSX Transportation along with a renewed agreement with Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers and an ongoing relationship with Chevrolet brings a new level of enthusiasm to our race team,â€ said Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing.

"The three corporations are leaders in their industry and we are both humbled and proud that they have chosen Furniture Row Racing as a means to enhance their company's branding and educational initiatives."

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., CSX Transportation maintains a more than 21,000-mile freight rail network serving 23 states and portions of Canada.

Building upon several years of its innovative safety communications campaign, CSX will utilize the Furniture Row Racing sponsorship as part of the â€œPlay it Safeâ€ campaign to urge pedestrians and motorists to exercise caution around railroad tracks.

â€œWe are pleased to join with Furniture Row Racing and driver Regan Smith to deliver our important safety message that railroad crossings and tracks can be dangerous if you donâ€™t obey the law,â€ said Cliff Stayton, Director-Community Affairs and Safety for CSX Transportation. â€œWe are working together to make sure that everyone knows how to play it safe around railroad tracks.â€

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers manufactures and markets in-house formulated and branded liquid fertilizer products. Incorporated in 1983, the St. Johns, Mich.-based agricultural company has worked years ahead of the industry response to the demand for environmentally-friendly products. The company owns the largest fertilizer research farm in the United States dedicated to plant nutrition.

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers has partnered with Furniture Row Racingâ€™s Farm American program, an initiative to bring awareness to the importance of keeping America's food supply produced in the United States.

"After telling the Farm American story for a year with Furniture Row Racing we are pleased that the message is getting stronger with more people and companies joining the team," said Albert Bancroft, marketing and communications manager for Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. "We are a strong supporter and look forward to being involved another year as we all continue to positively promote American agriculture."

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. From a competition standpoint in NASCAR, Chevrolet and its iconic bowtie logo have been dominant with nine consecutive manufacturer championships and 35 overall.

The Denver-based Furniture Row Racing single-car team and its driver Regan Smith enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2011. Smith and Furniture Row Racing captured their first career NASCAR victory in May, winning the famed Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Smith drove his No. 78 Chevrolet to one victory, two top-fives and five top-10s last season. He scored top-10s in NASCARâ€™s four biggest races â€“ Daytona 500 (seventh), Southern 500 (first), Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (eighth) and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (third).

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Smith Drives Race Car in Extreme Conditions

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Furniture Row Racing Youtube Channel - Check out a few scenes of Smith driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet on the mountain in Telluride, Colo.
http://www.youtube.com/FurnitureRowRacing

Lights, Camera, Action
Regan Smith Drives Race Car in Extreme Conditions

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 20, 2012) -- Within one week, Regan Smith went from driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway to the high ski slopes in Telluride, Colo.

And that begs the question: Why was the 28-year-old Smith, dressed in his Furniture Row firesuit, driving the race car at 9,000 feet above sea level on icy and snow-packed roads where tandem drafting would never work no matter how many rule packages were introduced?

While last week's Daytona test session was all about preparation for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500, Telluride was all about shooting scenes earlier in the week (Monday and Tuesday) for the annual Warren Miller Entertainment ski movie.

For more than 60 years Warren Miller Entertainment has been the gold standard for the production of ski movies. The Telluride shoot was one of multiple worldwide locations that will be utilized for the 2012 ski classic, which is scheduled for an October premiere.

Riding along with Smith in the race car, which was equipped with a ski rack and studded snow tires for the road less traveled, was national and world tour freeskiing champion Jess McMillan.

"It's an interesting storyline why I was driving Jess McMillan up the mountain," said Smith. "I can't say more about it until the movie is released. The conditions were tricky and the car was a handful to drive at times, but it was a blast. However, I did have my moments and let's just say that the car didn't leave Telluride dent free.

"Due to the popularity of the ski movie, I feel this was a win, win experiences for Furniture Row Racing, NASCAR, Warren Miller Entertainment, Spyder and Regan Smith. The perks keep on coming as a result of having Furniture Row Racing based in Denver."

McMillan, who has had her share of excitement during her freeskiing career, experienced a new thrill as a passenger in the Furniture Row Chevrolet.

"There is nothing like riding in a race car," stated McMillan. "When Regan started his engine, my heart rate skyrocketed. I had a blast working with Regan and the Furniture Row team. It was an experience I will never forget. Car 78 looked so cool with a ski rack on its roof driving through snow-covered mountain passes. I can't wait to go to my first race."

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Smith will take a little "Tebow-Time" out of Daytona test session

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Smith will take a little "Tebow-Time" out of Daytona test session

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 10, 2012) -- One of the perks of driving for a NASCAR team based in Denver is that your new "hometown hero" is none other than Tim Tebow. Regan Smith is packing his Denver Broncos hat along with his Furniture Row Racing helmet for NASCAR's Preseason Thunder, Thursday-Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Smith, who is a Denver-area resident, is among the legion of Tebowmania fans who have been captivated by the Broncos pulsating excitement, which reached a fever pitch after Sunday's overtime playoff win.

"No matter how the Broncos season ends I have a new person who I personally and professionally look up to and that's Tim Tebow," said Smith on his twitter account soon after the Denver quarterback threw the game-winning touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Known as an avid hockey fan, Smith said the only time he watches an entire football game is when the Broncos are playing.

"I am not an ardent football follower, unless it's Tebow and the Broncos," noted Smith. "Living out here in Denver you really feel the excitement. I have never seen so many people wearing their team gear.

"What I like about Tim Tebow personally is that he is a stand-up individual. He is fixed to his values and truly feels in the things that he believes in. He is not shy to let people know that. I think he is younger than me and yet he is somebody I Iook up to because of the way he handles himself both on and off the field. And I am really proud that Furniture Row Companies is involved with a fundraising affiliation with The Tim Tebow Foundation, which devotes a significant effort to serving orphanages around the world."

When asked if he would ever consider doing the signature Tebowing (the kneeling prayer bow with a closed fist to the forehead), the Furniture Row Racing driver did not rule it out.

"I will cross that bridge when we win the next one," said Smith, who drove his No. 78 Chevrolet to victory at last year's Southern 500 Sprint Cup race in Darlington, S.C.

Regarding the upcoming three-day preseason test session for the Daytona 500 (Feb. 26), Smith said the main focus will be on speed and understanding the effects of the new rules issued by NASCAR for restrictor-plate racing.

"We'll certainly be looking for the same things that everybody else will be looking for," stated Smith, who finished seventh in last year's Daytona 500. "The main focus will be on speed, speed by ourselves, paying close attention to who we are drafting with and obviously to see how we can maximize our performance with the new rule package. There will be plenty to learn during the three days of testing. It will be fun to get back to driving the Furniture Row Chevrolet."

Smith and the Furniture Row Racing organization are coming off their best season, which included a win, two top-fives and five top-10s in 2011.

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Looking for Broncos/Tebow Magic

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Furniture Row Racing Looking for Broncos/Tebow Magic

Smith's Sprint Cup Chevrolet to be Showcased
at Sunday's NFL Game in the Mile High City

DENVER, Colo. (Dec. 8, 2011) -- Though it's the offseason for NASCAR, the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing is looking for some of the recent magic by the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow to rub off on the Sprint Cup team as it prepares for February's season-opening Daytona 500.

Prior to Sunday's Broncos-Chicago Bears NFL game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Regan Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet will be parked on the southwest corner near Gate 10. Fans can stop by to see the race car and receive a Furniture Row Racing hero card from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. MT.

The Broncos (7-5) are tied for first place with the Oakland Raiders in the American Football Conference West Division with four regular season games remaining.

"It's been so exciting to follow the Broncos and watch in amazement the winning leadership of Tim Tebow," said Smith, a Denver-area resident. "This is a great opportunity to have our Furniture Row race car on display for Colorado sports fans. The way the Broncos are playing as of late it's like taking the lead during the closing laps of a Sprint Cup race and holding off the competition to the checkered flag. It's been an exciting but nerve-racking season for all Broncos fans."

Speaking about holding off the competition late in the race, that's exactly what Smith did in Tebow-like fashion to capture his first career NASCAR win last May in the Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Furniture Row Companies and its specialized bedding retailer Denver Mattress recently announced a fund-raising affiliation with The Tim Tebow Foundation, which devotes a significant effort to serving orphanages around the world.

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Regan Smith/Megan Mayhew Exchange Wedding Vows

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Regan Smith/Megan Mayhew Exchange Wedding Vows

Nov. 30, 2011 -- NASCAR driver Regan Smith and Megan Mayhew exchanged wedding vows Saturday, Nov. 26 at the United Methodist Church in Palm Coast, Fla. A reception followed the wedding ceremony at the Palm Coast Hammock Beach Resort.

Smith will begin his fourth season in 2012 as the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series. Mayhew, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, taught mathematics and science in the North Carolina public school system.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith reside in the Denver, Colo. area, which is the home base of the Furniture Row Racing team.

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David M. Ferroni
DMF Communications
150 King Creek Road
Golden Valley, MN 55416
612-805-8718 (mobile)
763-593-1506 (fax)
email: davidferroni@aol.com

Solid Effort for Smith, Furniture Row Racing in Season Finale

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Solid Effort for Smith, Furniture Row Racing in Season Finale

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2011) -- In a season that brought many highlights and firsts for Regan Smith, the Furniture Row Racing driver brought home a solid 13th-place finish in Sunday's Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Battling the elements and an early pit-road miscue, Smith stayed patient throughout the 267-lap, 400-mile race, which was red-flagged twice for rain.

"It could have been better, but it was a strong effort and a good way to cap off the season," said Smith. "We had some issues in recent races, but today we made it click when we had to in our No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. We got behind early, but managed to battle through the field."

When the first yellow flag flew for rain on Lap 12, Smith came down pit road in 12th place. But a pit stop problem sent Smith all the way back to 35th place on the 1.5-mile oval.

"The pit road deal was early in the race, we came back and that's what counts," stated Smith about the first pit stop. "Our performance was a solid team effort, led by our crew chief Pete Rondeau. This is the way we're capable of racing week in and week out."

The 2011 season saw Smith and Furniture Row Racing score a win, two top-fives and five top 10s - a marked improvement since both Smith and Furniture Row did not have a top-10 finish prior to the 2011 season.

"We made so much progress this season and feel that we're on the edge of hitting a new level of competition," said an upbeat Smith.

The race winner was Tony Stewart, who also captured the Sprint Cup season championship. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon.

After a three-month offseason, the 2012 season opens with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26.

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Smith Qualifies 16th in Homestead

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Smith Qualifies 16th in Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2011) â€“ Regan Smith will start 16th in Sundayâ€™s Ford 400, the final NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season.

In Saturday afternoonâ€™s time trials at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Smithâ€™s No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 1.5-mile oval in 31.156 seconds at 173.321 miles per hour. He will start on the outside of Row 8, alongside Tony Stewart, who is contending for the season championship.

â€œOur Furniture Row Racing team did a good job today,â€ said Smith. â€œWe had a good practice session and pulled off a decent starting position for tomorrowâ€™s race. I was a tick free during the qualifying run, but overall it was a solid lap. We sure want to close out this season with a strong run. Itâ€™s been a season of firsts for us and we would like to go into the offseason with added momentum.â€

The pole winner was Carl Edwards (175.467 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski.

Sundayâ€™s Ford 400 will be televised on ESPN, 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET). A 60-minute prerace show will air on ESPN2 at noon MT (2 p.m. ET).

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Once again season finale has Smith feeling upbeat about future

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Once again season finale has Smith feeling upbeat about future

DENVER, Colo. (Nov. 16, 2011) -- When Regan Smith walked out of Homestead-Miami Speedway following last year's final Sprint Cup race of the season, he felt confident that his Furniture Row Racing team was on the cusp of reaching a new level of competition.

"I felt we were knocking at the door of making a huge improvement," said Smith about the single-car Furniture Row team which is based in Denver.

Smith's sixth sense came to fruition a few months later at the season-opening Daytona 500 where he posted his first career top-10 result with a seventh-place finish. It was also Furniture Row Racing's first top-10.

The 2011 season only got better for Smith, who won the prestigious Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He has also amassed a total of five top-10s in his No. 78 Chevrolet, including a third-place finish in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

One year later, Smith once again enters the Ford 400 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the same confidence and enthusiasm about the future of Furniture Row Racing.

"We made some big gains this season as a team and accomplished many of our goals," said Smith. "But we still didn't accomplish everything we wanted to so there's still plenty to get done. But with that said, I feel we are at a point where we are ready to reach another level of competition. I have the same feeling I had last year at this time."

But before Smith takes that walk into the offseason, he has one more order of business for the 2011 season -- Sunday's 267-lap, 400-mile race at Homestead's 1.5-mile oval.

"The best time to build momentum for the following year is to have a strong finish in the last race of the season," noted Smith. "After what happened to us in Phoenix last week - being involved in an accident on the second lap - I can't wait to get back into the Furniture Row Chevrolet. Based on practice and qualifying we were looking for a good run in Phoenix. But it didn't turn out that way so we have one more race to show our mettle before we head into the offseason."

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2nd Lap Accident Forces Early Exit for Smith at Phoenix

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

2nd Lap Accident Forces Early Exit for Smith at Phoenix

PHOENIX (Nov. 13, 2011) -- The Valley of the Sun clouded over early for Regan Smith, who was involved in a second-lap accident in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

The incident was costly for Smith who finished 38th, his second-worst result of the season.

The concerns that every driver faced with the newly-paved track surface came to reality for Smith early as he and David Ragan got tangled in Turn 3 as the 43-car field was completing Lap 2 of 312.

"It wasn't a good deal and it's really frustrating because based on our practice sessions we were confident of producing a strong result today for Furniture Row Racing," said Smith. "It hasn't been a good year for us in Phoenix, we also got involved in an accident here in the second race of the season (finished 34th)."

After spinning and crashing into the wall, Smith was able to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet to the garage where the Furniture Row crew immediately went to work to repair the heavy damage. Smith was able to get back on track on Lap 125, but only could complete another 60 laps before retiring from the race.

"It was basically a race-ending accident on Lap 2," noted Smith. "It looks like some other cars also had trouble today. We have one more race to show our mettle."

Other drivers who had atypical results were: Kyle Busch (36th), Matt Kenseth (34th) and Jeff Gordon (32nd).

The race winner was Kasey Kahne. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton and Ryan Newman.

The final race of the season is Sunday (Nov. 20) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 15th in Phoenix

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

PHOENIX (Nov. 12, 2011) -- On a tricky track surface, Regan Smith qualified 15th for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

In Saturday's time trials at the newly-paved track, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the one-mile oval with a lap time and speed of 26.613 seconds at 135.272 miles per hour.

"The combination of a new track surface and different conditions than what we practiced in Friday resulted in a challenging qualifying session for all of us," said Smith. "I think we saw more sliding and slipping than we did all year. But our Furniture Row Chevrolet came through pretty good and we're okay with where we're starting. It could have been a lot worse."

The pole winner was Matt Kenseth (137.101 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: AJ Allmendinger, Marcos Ambrose, Mark Martin and Martin Truex Jr.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at noon MT.

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Military Service Shaped Life, Career Of Furniture Rowâ€™s Charlie Krauch

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

The following is a Veterans Day story on Furniture Row racing crewmember Charlie Krauch. The story was written by NASCAR PR, which highlights a crewmember each week.
News - Military Service Shaped Life, Career Of Furniture Rowâ€™s Charlie Krauch
November 9, 2011

NOTE: This release is in advance of Veteranâ€™s Day on Nov. 11, 2011.

Links below for photos:
http://bit.ly/krauchtoday
http://bit.ly/armyphoto

For Immediate Release

Military Service Shaped Life, Career Of Furniture Rowâ€™s Charlie Krauch
U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran Proud That America Recognizing Current Sacrifices

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 9, 2011) â€” Charlie Krauchâ€™s focus will be on his garage duties with Furniture Row Racing and the No. 78 Chevrolet driven by Regan Smith this Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. But Veteranâ€™s Day, comrades past and â€“ especially â€“ those currently in service to the nation wonâ€™t be far from the mind of the U.S. Army Vietnam War soldier.

Krauch, the Denver-based teamâ€™s director of transportation, served as a Specialist Fourth Class with the U.S. Army from 1971-73 maintaining heavy equipment at bases near Hue and later at Da Nang.

His unit was the last to leave his first base as the American presence wore down. Krauch then was a passenger on the final Freedom Flight out of Da Nang.

â€œMy thoughts are with the soldiers in there now,â€ said Krauch, who is proud of how America is thanking its post-9/11 service members. â€œBut all (who have served) should be acknowledged for what theyâ€™ve done. We know what the active ones are going through. We need to take care of all these people (but) the guys in the past need to be recognized as well.â€

Krauch, 59, a native of Hamburg, Pa. now living in Greeley, Colo., is grateful for the positive experiences his military service provided. â€œIt was a job that few people wanted to do but we did it,â€ he said of serving in Vietnam. â€œLearning a sense of authority was a real eye-opener, how to take (and execute) orders at a young age.

â€œThe whole experience taught me how good we have it here and how to take care of yourself and other people.â€

A number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will recognize Veteranâ€™s Day with special paint schemes and other activities related to service members during Phoenix International Racewayâ€™s Kobalt Tools 500 weekend.

The Stewart-Haas Racingâ€™s No. 39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman will be adorned with 350 faces of U.S. Army Vietnam War veterans as part of the U.S. Armyâ€™s sponsorship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Front Row Motorsportsâ€™ No. 38 Ford of J.J. Yeley will carry a patriotic paint scheme designed by disabled U.S. Marine Scott Bates of Muscogee, Okla.

The No. 47 JTG/Daugherty Racing Toyota of Bobby Labonte is recognizing the Wounded Warrior Project while the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Clint Bowyer will spotlight sponsor General Mills/Cheeriosâ€™ commitment to aid the USO. The team also is hosting military families from nearby Luke Air Force Base.

No doubt about it; after owner, driver and crew chief, Krauch is the most important member of the Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet team.

What makes that so? Furniture Row is the only fulltime NASCAR Sprint Cup team headquartered outside the Carolinas. With the majority of the races held a thousand or more miles from the teamâ€™s Denver shop, itâ€™s imperative every piece and part is accounted for and available.

Not to mention stripped, cleaned and replaced on a schedule that leaves little or no time for error.

â€œWeâ€™re doing double the miles they do,â€ said Krauch, who supervises the teamâ€™s three-hauler-driver rotation. Talking on a Monday afternoon from the shop, he said, â€œWe just got back an hour ago and we have to leave by Tuesday night. Our turnarounds are a lot shorter.â€

Krauch didnâ€™t come to the team as a logistics specialist. But the need was there and heâ€™d managed people before â€“ most recently five years ago for Art Castings of Colorado, a firm that crafted and completed a number of monuments including the Vietnam Nurses Memorial in Washington D.C. and the Buffalo Soldiers site at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

â€œI had hands-on experience dealing with (45) artists; people that think a bit differently than everybody else,â€ said Krauch, who found it a smooth transition to a NASCAR team whose members are artists as well â€“ just of a different sort.

On race weekends, Krauch wears a number of hats, typical of a one-car team whose members are expected to perform multiple duties. He and his truck drivers are responsible for setting up equipment and observation decks. During the race itself Krauch will haul gas cans back and forth to the Sunoco fuel station as well as handling the transport of tires to and from the Goodyear Tire Station inside the garage.

He also conducts pit tours for Furniture Row guests and prospective sponsors. â€œI try to explain everything in laymanâ€™s terms and try not to get too technical,â€ he said. â€œThereâ€™s a lot of information to absorb and most of the people on the tours have no clue as to what happensâ€ behind the scenes.

Tire Gamble Doesn't Pay Off for Smith, Finishes 23rd in Texas

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Tire Gamble Doesn't Pay Off for Smith, Finishes 23rd in Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 6, 2011) -- Regan Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team felt they were in position to bring home a top-10 finish, but a two-tire gamble late in the race didn't pan out as Smith took the checkered flag 23rd in Sunday's AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway.

"We rolled the dice with two fresh tires instead of four, and this time it didn't play in our favor," said Smith. "Our Furniture Row Chevrolet came on strong in the end and we were looking for better track position on that last pit stop."

Between the second-to-last pit stop (Lap 269 of 334) and the final stop (Lap 300), Smith charged from 20th to 14th on the 1.5-mile oval.

"No question we were on the move, but the two tires on the last pit stop just didn't hold up and we went backwards," noted Smith. "We don't second guess, it's just a waste of energy. Again, that kind of call has worked for us in the past, but today it was different. Let's not forget we made a no-tire call in Darlington and won the race."

Smith started the 500-mile race from the 10th position and went forward immediately. When he came down pit road for his first stop on Lap 43 he was running in fifth place.

"The Furniture Row Chevy was flying in the beginning," said Smith. "But we started to experience some handling issues which got resolved later in the race. We didn't get the finish that we had hoped for, but the good news is that we made some gains with our mile-and-a-half program. That was our main objective coming into the race. Though the finish was disappointing, we're learning and gaining more experience as a team."

The race winner was Tony Stewart. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has two races remaining -- at Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 13) and at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 20).

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Smith Qualifies 10th in Texas

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 10th in Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 4, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 10th in Sunday's AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race.

In Friday's qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 1.5-mile oval in 27.995 seconds at 192.892 miles per hour.

"A top-10 starting position is good, but it's hard to be satisfied because you always want better," said Smith. "I was a little free going into turns one and two, but better in (turns) three and four. I was also pleased about how our Furniture Row Chevrolet practiced in race trim today."

Sprint Cup teams are scheduled for two additional practice sessions on Saturday.

The pole winner was Greg Biffle (193.736 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: David Ragan, Matt Kenseth, Paul Menard and Tony Stewart.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at noon MT.

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Intermediate Venues Top of Mind for Smith

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Intermediate Venues Top of Mind for Smith

DENVER, Colo. (Nov. 2, 2011) -- If there were an area where Regan Smith and his Furniture Row Racing team would like to see improvement it would be at NASCAR's intermediate tracks -- the 1.5 and 2-mile venues.

That's why Smith is eagerly looking forward to two of the final three Sprint Cup races of the season -- this weekend's AAA Texas 500 at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway and the Nov. 20th finale at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"Coming into the 2011 season we felt the intermediate tracks like Texas would be strong for our Furniture Row Chevrolet," said Smith. "We've had some good runs on the 1.5 and two-mile tracks, but not as many as we had hoped for."

Smith's best run at an intermediate oval this season was eighth at the May race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In the other 11 intermediate races he had three finishes between 11-19, four between 20-29 and four between 30-39.

"Some of those race finishes were a result of a mechanical issue or being collected in an accident," noted Smith. "But overall we have not performed as well as we thought we would after some strong performances last season. We want to turn around the intermediate program, which is more than one-third of our races. That's why this weekend's race at Texas is important to our program."

Smith feels the intermediate results should have been more in line with the team's vast improvement this season, which has included a victory at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, a third at Indianapolis Motor Speedway plus five top-10s.

"Considering how much we improved this season, we should have been better at the intermediate tracks," explained Smith. "I really like to close out the season with solid finishes at both Texas at Homestead, which would give us added confidence for the intermediate schedule next season. We didn't get a chance to do much at Texas back in April since we crashed and took an early exit from the race. Right now, we're coming off a decent performance at Martinsville (13th) and want to continue our progress at the final three races."

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Smith Finishes 13th in Martinsville

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Battles Through Spins, Damaged Car to Finish 13th in Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 30, 2011) -- Despite getting spun out twice and driving a damaged race car, Regan Smith stayed patient throughout Sunday's caution-filled race to net a solid 13th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway.

It was a career-best result in seven starts for Smith at the historic half-mile flat track, which produced 17 cautions for 120 laps in the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup race.

"What a wild and wacky race today," said Smith. "We got collected early and thought it was going to be a long day. But we hung in there and came home with a decent finish. Our Furniture Row Chevrolet took a beating, but that comes with the territory at Martinsville. This track really tests your patience and emotions."

Smith, who started 26th due to Saturday's qualifying being rained out, first got collected when Dave Blaney spun in Turn 3 on Lap 27 of 500. That incident eventually put Smith a lap down. He also got spun later in the race and his banged up No. 78 Chevrolet had only half a rear bumper along with heavy damage to the rear quarter panels.

"The car looked like a beat up heavyweight fighter who refused to go down," noted Smith. "Hats off to our Furniture Row pit crew for an incredible job repairing the car in record time. The bottom line is that we fought hard and persevered. That's what you have to do at Martinsville."

Coming into the short track race, Smith felt that his team was primed for a good finish, but needed to avoid serious trouble. Smith said he had good performances at Martinsville in the past but something out of his control would spoil the effort. His last three finishes at Martinsville were 31st, 31st and 32nd.

"We wanted a top-10 today, but considering where we came from and the bad luck we've had in the past at Martinsville, we'll take 13th," explained Smith.

The race winner was Tony Stewart. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Nov. 6) at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

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Rain Washes Out Cup Qualifying at Martinsville

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Rain Washes Out Cup Qualifying at Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 29, 2011) â€“ Saturdayâ€™s Sprint Cup qualifying was canceled due to do wet weather at the half-mile Martinsville Speedway.

The 43-car field for Sundayâ€™s Tums Fast Relief 500 will be set according to owner points, meaning that Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith will start 26th.

Cup teams are still hoping to get some practice time in today, but a steady mist is currently the problem.

Sundayâ€™s race will be televised on ESPN, 11:30 a.m. MT.

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After Talladega, Smith Wouldn't Mind a Few Treats in Martinsville

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

After Talladega, Smith Wouldn't Mind a Few Treats in Martinsville

DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 26, 2011) -- Regan Smith has seen enough tricks in recent races, especially the pirouette his car took before slamming into the wall last week at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Though he escaped injuries -- except for soreness -- the Furniture Row Racing driver is looking to be on the receiving end of some treats on Halloween Eve.

"I am still a little disappointed about what happened in Talladega," stated Smith. "The Furniture Row Chevy was strong all day and to be taken out with eight laps remaining hurts as did the impact into the wall. That was a pretty good lick I took and I want to personally commend NASCAR for our safety equipment and the safety innovations made throughout the years."

Smith and his No. 78 Chevrolet will be at the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway Sunday (Oct. 30) for the running of the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup race, the sixth and final short-track event of the season.

Smith's finishes in the first five short-track races included three top-20s and a 22nd. His worst finish of 31st, which came at the Martinsville spring race, should have been his best.

"I still think about the last Martinsville race," said Smith. "We were in perfect position to finish in the top-10 or better until the right-front brake rotor broke."

At the time of the breakage, Smith was running in 14th place with 35 laps remaining and did not need to pit for the remainder of the race. He would have gained a number of spots in track position once the cars ahead of him came down pit road for the final stop.

"That one hurt because we had it planned perfectly with our pit stop strategy," noted Smith. "We've accomplished a number of firsts this season, but we haven't nailed down a top-10 at a short track. I hope we can find ourselves in a similar position come Sunday, but not have any malfunctions, which would be the treat we're looking for."

Within a week's time, Smith and the 43-car field will come from competing on NASCAR's biggest track -- Talladega's high-banked 2.66-mile oval -- to its smallest track, the .526-mile flat oval of Martinsville Speedway.

"If you like variety we have it here in NASCAR," said Smith. "I enjoy the different-style of tracks, but the main workload is with the guys at the shop who make sure we have all the cars ready to go for the different venues. We have four races remaining. That top-10 short-track finish would really add to an already exciting season for our Furniture Row Racing team."

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Smith's Strong Run Stymied in Late Talladega Crash

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith's Strong Run Stymied in Late Talladega Crash

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 23, 2011) -- Running in 10th-place and charging forward, Regan Smith saw a potentially strong finish fade in an instant when he got collected in an accident with six laps remaining in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

The Furniture Row Racing driver was credited with a 30th-place finish in the Good Sam Club 500.

Before crashing hard into the concrete wall on the high speed, 2.66-mile oval, Smith suffered a major blow when his drafting partner Kurt Busch was involved in a race-ending incident on Lap 176 of 188.

With Busch on the sidelines, Smith was able to hook up with Casey Mears and moved from 24th to the top-10 in only a few laps. But on Lap 182, Denny Hamlin's car got into Mark Martin's car, who swerved uncontrollably into Smith's car, sending the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet into a violent spin and then into the wall.

"Yea that was not a fun hit -- but thanks to all the safety equipment and innovations we've had over the years," said Smith, who was evaluated and released from the infield care center. "But it is what we do at the restrictor plate tracks and unfortunately get caught up in other peopleâ€™s messes. I don't know what happened. I was hoping we were going to have a good day. My partner, Kurt Busch, got wrecked earlier and it was not his fault either, but that is how it goes."

Smith and Busch, who became a forceful tandem back in February at the Daytona 500, were strong all day, running with the leaders on the 2.66-mile oval.

"We had it going, but when Kurt crashed, I was lucky to get Casey (Mears) as a partner," noted Smith. "We were moving forward until I got clipped by the No. 5 car (Mark Martin). We just haven't had good luck this year on the restrictor-plate tracks."

The race winner was Clint Bowyer. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Burton, Dave Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Brian Vickers.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Oct. 30) at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

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TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 23, 2011) -- Running in 10th-place and charging forward, Regan Smith saw a potentially strong finish fade in an instant when he got collected in an accident with six laps remaining in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

The Furniture Row Racing driver was credited with a 30th-place finish in the Good Sam Club 500.

Before crashing hard into the concrete wall on the high speed, 2.66-mile oval, Smith suffered a major blow when his drafting partner Kurt Busch was involved in a race-ending incident on Lap 176 of 188.

With Busch on the sidelines, Smith was able to hook up with Casey Mears and moved from 24th to the top-10 in only a few laps. But on Lap 182, Denny Hamlin's car got into Mark Martin's car, who swerved uncontrollably into Smith's car, sending the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet into a violent spin and then into the wall.

"Yea that was not a fun hit -- but thanks to all the safety equipment and innovations we've had over the years," said Smith, who was evaluated and released from the infield care center. "But it is what we do at the restrictor plate tracks and unfortunately get caught up in other peopleâ€™s messes. I don't know what happened. I was hoping we were going to have a good day. My partner, Kurt Busch, got wrecked earlier and it was not his fault either, but that is how it goes."

Smith and Busch, who became a forceful tandem back in February at the Daytona 500, were strong all day, running with the leaders on the 2.66-mile oval.

"We had it going, but when Kurt crashed, I was lucky to get Casey (Mears) as a partner," noted Smith. "We were moving forward until I got clipped by the No. 5 car (Mark Martin). We just haven't had good luck this year on the restrictor-plate tracks."

The race winner was Clint Bowyer. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Burton, Dave Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Brian Vickers.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Oct. 30) at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 22nd in Talladega

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 22nd in Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 22, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 22nd in Sunday's Good Sam Club 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

In Saturday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 2.66-mile oval in 53.305 seconds at 179.645 miles per hour.

"We had a good practice in race trim yesterday and feel we're ready to go out there and challenge for the win," said Smith. "It's about racing smart and staying out of trouble. We've been close before and hopefully it will all come together for Furniture Row Racing on Sunday."

The pole winner was Mark Martin (181.367 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Trevor Bayne and Jeff Gordon.

Sunday's 188-lap race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at 11 a.m. MT.

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Smith's Talladega Helmet to Support Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith's Talladega Helmet to Support Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 20, 2011) -- Regan Smith's helmet for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway will have a special paint scheme, supporting the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation whose mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in combat or accidents.

The red, white and blue helmet for the Furniture Row Racing driver will carry the www.fallenpatriots.org web site address and logo. The helmet will be auctioned off at the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation gala, Saturday, Nov. 12 in Riverside, Conn.

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Victory Helps Smith Cope With Talladega Memory

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Victory Helps Smith Cope With Talladega Memory

DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 19, 2011) -- When Regan Smith arrives at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for this weekend's Sprint Cup race he will have more comfort dealing with the memory of his almost victory three years ago at the 2.66-mile oval.

Smith crossed the finish line first in the October 2008 Talladega race, and what appeared to be his first-career victory, was quickly taken away when NASCAR penalized him for passing Tony Stewart below the out-of-bounds yellow line on the final lap. The controversial penalty gave Stewart the victory and sent Smith from first to 18th in the final running order.

"When I would return to Talladega I would think about what happened and wondered if I would ever again be in position to win a Sprint Cup race," said Smith. "It stayed with me for a long time."

The lingering memory actually stayed with Smith until early May of this year when he again found himself in position to win. It was in the prestigious Southern 500 race at the daunting Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, where Smith impressively claimed his first official victory after holding off the field on old tires during a green-white-checkered overtime finish.

"I never felt the Talladega track owed me anything," explained Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet. "I wanted to have a win so badly, and when it finally came at Darlington, the victory did soften the Talladega disappointment. However, the Darlington win doesn't soften our desire to win this weekend. I would love to experience that winning feeling again. I enjoy restrictor-plate racing and feel that we have a good shot at winning at Talladega."

Smith has had success on the big superspeedways. At the season-opening Daytona 500 he was leading until he got tangled in an accident with five laps remaining. Despite a wrecked car, he still finished seventh in the 500. In his last two races at Talladega he finished 12th and 15th.

It's been a breakthrough season for Smith and the Denver, Colo-based Furniture Row Racing team, scoring one win, two top-fives and five top-10s.

"A second win would really put an exclamation mark on the season," noted Smith. "I feel confident coming into Talladega."

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Smith Finishes 25th in Charlotte

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 15, 2011) -- Regan Smith knew he had a better car than his 25th-place finish in Saturday night's Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

But fighting track position at the 1.5-mile oval along with an untimely caution and a slightly damaged car stymied his performance in the 334-lap, 501-mile race.

"It was one of those nights, nothing worked in our favor," said Smith. "We fought track position all night and couldn't get out of the dirty air. Our Furniture Row Chevrolet had some zip, and on a couple of occasions when we got up in some clean air we were fast."

Starting 21st, Smith experienced handling issues with his No. 78 Chevrolet early in the race. But with good driver input coupled with the right car adjustments, Smith was able to pick up the pace.

"We were getting better, but then there was that caution (on Lap 288) shortly after we made a green-flag pit stop," explained Smith. "That put us further behind and to make matters worse, a few laps later our car suffered some front-end damage in a multicar accident in turn two. We just had too many hurdles to overcome."

Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team will be looking for a better result at the next Sprint Cup race -- Sunday (Oct. 23) at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

The Charlotte race winner was Matt Kenseth. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Marcos Ambrose.

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Smith Qualifies 21st in Charlotte

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 21st in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE (Oct. 13, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 21st in Saturday night's Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Smith's qualifying lap Thursday night at the 1.5-mile oval was 28.357 seconds at 190.429 miles per hour.

"I just didn't get enough in turns three and four," said Smith, who was fifth fastest in the earlier practice session. "We had a higher expectation than 21st, but on the bright side we have a good Furniture Row Chevrolet for Saturday night's race. We'll take care of the car's fine tuning during tomorrow's practice sessions."

The pole winner was Tony Stewart (191.959 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, AJ Allmendinger and Greg Biffle.

Saturday night's 334-lap race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

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Back in Comfort Zone, Smith Looking to Regain Momentum

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Back in Comfort Zone, Smith Looking to Regain Momentum

DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 12, 2011) -- It's known as the "Beast of the South", but to Regan Smith Charlotte Motor Speedway is the crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me.

"I was asked last week in Kansas what are some of my favorite tracks and the first track that came to mind was Charlotte Motor Speedway," said Smith. "I probably should have said Darlington since we won there back in May, but it was Charlotte that I mentioned first. I've always felt comfortable at Charlotte, it's the perfect track."

Smith, who finished eighth in the spring race at Charlotte, returns to the 1.5-mile oval for Saturday night's Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup race.

The Furniture Row Racing driver is looking to regain momentum after seeing his streak of four straight top-20s snapped last week in Kansas due to a pit-road speeding penalty.

"No argument from me, I messed up on pit road last week," said Smith. "We need to get that momentum back and I can't think of a better track than Charlotte for our Furniture Row Chevrolet to begin a string of successful runs."

Smith's results at Charlotte are a good indicator of how much he enjoys the facility. When he raced in the Nationwide Series full time, his first top-10 came at Charlotte and in five career Cup starts at Charlotte he has posted four top-20 finishes. His only non top-20 was a 23rd-place result.

"We have six races remaining and we're working so hard to get another big lift," stated Smith. "It's been the best season for me and for Furniture Row Racing, but we want to pick it up a few notches in the homestretch. We're close, I can feel it, but we need to finish the mission."

The 2011 season has indeed been the best for Smith and the single-car Furniture Row Racing team, which is based in Denver, Colo. After the 2010 season Smith and Furniture Row Racing did not have a top-10 finish in their career portfolio. But that has changed this season with Smith claiming a win, two top-fives, five top-10s and 15 top- 20s.

"We put an exclamation mark on our season in May at Darlington, but we want another one before we close out 2011," said Smith.

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Speeding Penalty Stifles Charge for Smith at Kansas

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Speeding Penalty Stifles Charge for Smith at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 9, 2011) -- A pit-road speeding penalty in Sunday's Hollywood 400 Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway was a momentum stopper for Regan Smith, who took the checkered flag in 24th-place.

The final result snapped a four-race streak of top-20 finishes for Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team, which along with its financial partner -- Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers -- was supporting the Farm American program at the Kansas race.

NASCAR officials cited Smith for speeding following a green-flag, four-tire/fuel stop on Lap 170 of 272. He was ordered to return to pit road for a pass-through penalty, costing him valuable track position on the 1.5-mile oval.

"That knocked the wind out of our sails," said Smith. "I was very surprised when I was informed that I was being penalized for speeding. By no means did I feel that I went over the limit. But the call was made and we did the best we could from that point on."

Smith, who started the race from the 16th position, struggled with the car's handling for a good portion of the 400-mile event.

"We just couldn't seem to find the right balance with our Furniture Row Chevrolet," noted Smith. "Don't get me wrong, I had some good runs in the car today, but never had the rhythm for the entire race. But no matter what, the speeding penalty definitely cost us at least a top-20 finish."

Smith was looking to gain track position during the green-white-checkered restart, but he got trapped in the two-lap overtime dash and stayed where he started -- in 24th place.

"We took four fresh tires for the green-white-checkered restart, but couldn't move forward," said Smith. "It just wasn't our day."

The race winner was Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards.

The next Cup race is Saturday night -- the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 16th in Kansas

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 16th in Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 7, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 16th in Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway.

In Friday afternoon's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.5-mile oval in 31.119 seconds at 173.527 miles per hour.

"Based on how we practiced in qualifying trim (11th fastest), I was looking for a better starting spot," said Smith. "We just didn't get everything out of the lap. It wasn't that bad of a lap, but we obviously wanted better. We need to fine tune the car tomorrow and move forward in Sunday's race."

The pole winner was Greg Biffle (174.887 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne.

Smith's No. 78 Chevy this weekend is supporting the Farm American program, which is an effort by Furniture Row Racing and its financial partner, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, to bring awareness to the importance of keeping America's food supply produced in the United States.

Sunday's Cup race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 11 a.m. (noon local time).

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Taking Farm American to the Heartland

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Taking Farm American to the Heartland,
Smith Aiming for More Consistency, Better Results

DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 5, 2011) -- Regan Smith's goal for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway is not only to better a string of successful finishes, but also to promote the Farm American program, which will once again be showcased on his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

It will be the third of a recent three-race Farm American schedule for Furniture Row Racing and its financial partner Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers of St. Johns, Mich.

The race in America's Heartland is a fitting place for Furniture Row Racing and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers to support Farm American, which is an effort to bring awareness to the importance of keeping America's food supply produced in the United States.

Smith, who has four consecutive top-20 finishes, including a 10th at New Hampshire two weeks ago, said the recent performances are close to what the single-car team wants to accomplish in the closing races of the 2011 season.

"While the 12 Chase drivers are concentrating on winning a championship, our focus is to get a jump on the 2012 season," said Smith. "We've been making steady improvement, but one thing that we need to improve upon is consistency. So far, we're making progress in that area and we need to know that we can be consistent heading into 2012."

Smith's finishes in the past four races were: 18th (Richmond), 17th (Chicago), 10th (New Hampshire) and 17th (Dover).

Though he's been consistent, Smith would like to see better results in his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet .

"We really would like to have more top 10s before the season comes to a close," said Smith, whose 2011 record includes one win, two top-fives and five top-10s. "Kansas is a mile-and-a-half track and we like the intermediate venues, but need to have better results on them.

"Kansas would be a great place to step it up, especially with having Farm American on the car. Furniture Row Racing and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers have been utilizing our race team to connect agriculture messaging to NASCAR fans. We want our agriculture jobs and food supply to remain here in the U.S."

In his most recent trip to Kansas Speedway for the June Cup race, Smith qualified 11th and was running in the top-15 before a pit-road miscue sent him to the back of the field and a 24th-place finish.

"We proved we can qualify strong and run well at Kansas," explained Smith. "We just need to avoid mistakes and mechanical issues."

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Consistent Smith Finishes 17th in Dover; Fourth Straight Top-20 Result

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Consistent Smith Finishes 17th in Dover; Fourth Straight Top-20 Result

DOVER, Del. (Oct. 2, 2011) -- Regan Smith brought home another consistent performance, finishing 17th in Sunday's AAA 400 Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.

The result for the Furniture Row Racing driver was his fourth straight top-20 finish, the first time he and the single car, Denver, Colo.-based team have strung together four top 20s. The top-20 streak started in Richmond (18th) and was followed in Chicago (17th) and last week in New Hampshire (10th).

"It's nice to have consistency because this is what we stressed going into the final 10 races," said Smith. "But we obviously want better and eventually string together top 15s and top 10s. We're on the right path, but still need to improve. It's been a fun season because we keep on seeing these improvements and that gives the entire Furniture Row Racing team a morale boost."

Maneuvering around Dover's all-concrete Monster Mile is no easy task, but Smith stayed out of trouble as he drove patiently to finish on the lead lap in his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

"We got behind today, but with sound pit strategy and being calm, we managed to collectively work through the problems and post a respectable finish at a difficult track," explained Smith. "We need to keep it up, because right now we're getting ready for 2012."

The Dover race winner was Kurt Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Oct. 9) at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

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Smith Qualifies 16th in Dover

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 16th in Dover

DOVER, Del. (Oct. 1, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 16th in Sunday's AAA 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.

In Saturday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the Monster Mile in 22.832 seconds at 157.673 miles per hour.

"Not a bad starting position," said Smith, who is coming off a top-10 finish at New Hampshire last week. "We've had some decent results in the last three races and want to continue the momentum in the final eight races of the season. We had a good run going here at Dover back in May until the track bar mount broke late in the race. Hopefully we can have a clean race tomorrow and bring home another top-10."

The pole winner was Martin Truex Jr. (159.004 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kurt Busch, Paul Menard, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at 11 a.m. MT.

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Smith Keeping Pace in the Homestretch

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Keeping Pace in the Homestretch

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 28, 2011) -- Regan Smith said recently that the final 10 races of the season would be a good barometer to see how his Furniture Row Racing team stacks up against the 12 Chase teams vying for the Sprint Cup championship.

"The homestretch races will give us a good idea about how much we need to improve to be a bona fide contender for a Chase position in 2012," said Smith.

Two races into the Chase, Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based single-car team like the trend. With finishes of 17th and 10th in his No. 78 Chevrolet, Smith picked up 62 points, which is equal to or better than six of the 12 Chase drivers.

His 10th-place finish in Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was the fifth top-10 of the season, which is another indicator of Furniture Row Racing's major improvement in 2011. Up until this season, neither Smith nor the Furniture Row Racing team had ever posted a top-10 result. The five top-10s include Smith's win at Darlington Raceway and a third-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"When you talk about improvement the five top-10s are definitely a positive," explained Smith. "But when you talk about being a bona fide Chase contender those numbers need to improve along with avoiding results in the high 20s and 30s. You're going to have a few of those low finishes throughout the course of a 36-race schedule, but we had too many this year."

For the record, Smith's finishes after 28 Sprint Cup races include five between 1-10, nine between 11-19, six between 20-29 and eight between 30-39.

"The eight finishes in the 30s were not a result of poor performance," noted Smith. "The cause of the low results was due to either an accident, mechanical issue or fuel mileage."

Smith's next Sprint Cup stop is Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway.The last time he competed at Dover was the week following his May 7th victory in Darlington.

"We came to Dover back in May with a lot of smiles, but left with long faces," noted Smith, who finished 34th at the Monster Mile due to a broken track bar mount. "Based on how the race was playing out, we felt we had a legitimate shot at a top-10 before the mechanical problem. Hopefully we can avoid problems this weekend and secure another strong finish."

The paint scheme for Smith's Furniture Row race car in Dover will include pink highlights as part of Chevrolet's national dealer network fight against breast cancer.

"October is breast cancer awareness month and I am real proud of Furniture Row Racing and Chevrolet for their efforts to help combat the disease," offered Smith.

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Regan Smith Claims Top-10 Finish

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Regan Smith Claims Top-10 Finish;

Conserving Fuel Leads to 10th-Place New Hampshire Result

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 25, 2011) -- This time Regan Smith left New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a happier mood.

Back in the July Cup race at the New England facility Smith was running in 11th place until he ran out of fuel with a few laps remaining. The fuel issue relegated him to the rear of the field with a 33rd place finish.

But on Sunday, Smith's scenario took a 180-degree turn as the Furniture Row Racing driver skillfully conserved fuel in the closing laps of the Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup race to post a 10th-place finish.

"This is the second week in a row where we needed to save fuel to get to the checkered flag," said Smith, who brought home a 17th-place finish in Chicago's fuel mileage race last week. "These final 10 races will be a gauge for 2012 to see how we stack up against the Chase drivers. Being one of the 12 Chase teams is where Furniture Row Racing eventually wants to be. We know we have to reach another level or two, but there is no denying that we are making progress. And yes, the attitude around here is much better than it was after the July New Hampshire race."

The final result was the fifth top-10 of the year for Smith. Prior to the 2011 season both Smith and Furniture Row Racing had never finished in the top-10. Along with the five top-10 finishes, Smith has one win, two top-fives and has been one of the qualifying leaders throughout the season.

"It is sure gratifying to see how far this Furniture Row team has come since this time last year," stated Smith. "We felt it getting better, but you never know if you're really making progress until you actually start proving yourself with some quality results."

Smith qualified 17th for Sunday's 300-lap race at the 1.058-mile oval. He ran in the top-20 for a good portion of the race and then started to pick off track position after the final pit stop with approximately 70 laps remaining.

"Just an all around solid effort," said Furniture Row crew chief and New England native Pete Rondeau, who hails from Saco, Maine. "We missed out on a top-10 finish in July but came back strong today. Any time you can get a top 10, especially in a Chase race, it's a morale boost for the entire organization."

In the last three races Smith has been trending in the right direction with finishes of 18th in Richmond, 17th in Chicago and 10th in New Hampshire.

"We've been stressing consistency and need to continue this kind of performance in the final eight races," added Rondeau.

The New Hampshire race winner was Tony Stewart. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Oct. 2) at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 17th in New Hampshire

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 17th in New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 23, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 17th in Sunday's Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

In Friday's qualifying session at the 1.058-mile oval, Smith's Furniture Row Chevrolet recorded a lap of 28.476 seconds at 133.755 miles per hour.

"With rain in the forecast for tomorrow (Saturday) we concentrated almost all of our practice time today in race trim," said Smith, who was 18th fastest in practice. "We would have liked to have a better starting position, but we can work with the 17th spot."

The pole winner was Ryan Newman (135.002 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 11 a.m. MT.

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New England Native Rondeau Returns to Roots

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

New England Native Rondeau Returns to Roots
as Furniture Row Racing Crew Chief

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 21, 2011) -- For Pete Rondeau, crew chief of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet driven by Regan Smith, this weekend's Sprint Cup race -- the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway -- carries a special significance.

Rondeau is a New England native, hailing from Saco, Maine, located 90 miles north from New Hampshire Motor Speedway's Magic Mile in Loudon.

Before he headed south to North Carolina in 1998 to work full-time in NASCAR, Rondeau drove race cars at short tracks throughout New England, including sportsman cars in the American Canadian Series. He also raced seven times at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in what was formerly known as the Busch North Series.

"I guess you could say New Hampshire Motor Speedway is my home track on the NASCAR circuit," said Rondeau. "It's always nice to return to my roots in New England. I would like nothing better than to walk away with a strong finish on Sunday."

Rondeau knows the feeling about walking out of race tracks following a stalwart result. He directed Smith to an impressive victory earlier in the year in the Southern 500 at the daunting Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He also saw his driver lead the Daytona 500 with a few laps remaining, finish eighth at Charlotte Motor Speedway and post a third-place result at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Brickyard 400.

"We had our goals at the beginning of the year and have achieved most of them," noted the cool, calm and analytical Rondeau. "We definitely have done enough good things this season to put together a nice highlight video."

Rondeau said the biggest thing he would like to see in the final nine races is consistency from the single car, Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team.

"We need more consistency with our finishes," explained Rondeau. "It seems like we have a couple of good races followed by a couple of bad ones. I would like to see us have results between the top-10 and top-15 in the remaining races. That would be a great springboard for 2012. When you finish in the 30s that puts you way behind in points. We've had too many of those types of finishes with most of them as a result of being collected in accidents or mechanical issues."

One of those disheartening finishes in the 30s that Rondeau talked about came at New Hampshire in the July race. As the fuel-mileage race was winding down Smith's Furniture Row Chevrolet was running solidly in 11th place. But as what happened to a number of others drivers, Smith's car ran out of gas, which relegated him to a 33rd-place finish.

"That was one of many races that got away from us," said Rondeau. "Hopefully we'll run as strong this weekend as we did in July at New Hampshire, but the only difference is to capitalize on the strong performance with a solid finish."

Smith, who did a masterful job in conserving fuel to finish 17th in Monday's rain-delayed race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., agrees with his crew chief when it comes to consistency.

"Pete has done a great job for us and I know that being back in New England is a special weekend for him," said Smith. "I do agree with what Pete has been saying about us needing more consistency to get to that next level of competition. You look at the record of the Chase drivers and consistency is key to their success."

Smith is coming off two straight top-20 finishes of 18th in Richmond and 17th at Chicagoland.

"Both of those finishes should have been better," said Smith. "Our goal every week is to run in the top-10. And that's what we'll strive for on Sunday."

###

Conserving Fuel, Smith Finishes 17th at Chicagoland

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Conserving Fuel, Smith Finishes 17th at Chicagoland

JOLIET, Ill. (Sept. 19, 2011) -- Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith conserved fuel in the closing laps to cap off a steady performance with a 17th-place finish in Monday's rain-delayed Geico 400 Sprint Cup race.

Smith, who rode in the low to high teens for the majority of the 267-lap, 400-mile event at Chicagoland Speedway, was told to save at least three laps of fuel in the final 49-lap, green-flag run.

"No problem," radioed Smith to his crew chief Pete Rondeau.

Smith delivered on his promise as his No. 78 Chevrolet took the checkered flag before the fuel tank was empty. The 17th-place finish was his 13th top-20 of the season.

"We were happy about the fuel mileage," said Smith. "It was a steady effort and we avoided trouble. We were on the lead lap for the entire race, which is a positive. And once again our Furniture Row pit crew did an outstanding job."

Smith started the race from the 13th position and ran in the top-12 for the first 80 laps.

"We ran strong early in the race and then lost some of that track position," explained Smith. "We had a couple of issues including a tire going down. Luckily we caught it in time."

Smith moved from 26th to 25th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup driver point standings.

The race winner was Tony Stewart -- his first victory of the season. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski.

The next Sprint Cup race is this coming Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.

###

Smith Qualifies 13th at Chicagoland

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 13th at Chicagoland

JOLIET, Ill. (Sept. 17, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 13th in Sunday's GEICO 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet posted a time and speed of 29.690 seconds at 181.870 mph in Saturday's qualifying session at the 1.5-mile oval.

"So far we're having a good weekend," said Smith. "Our Furniture Row Chevrolet has been strong in both qualifying trim and race trim, and with that said, we're going into tomorrow's race feeling upbeat about what we can accomplish."

The pole winner was Matt Kenseth (183.243 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Paul Menard, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 11 a.m. MT.

###

Chase Races Also Vital for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Chase Races Also Vital for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 15, 2011) -- Though he is not in the Chase, Regan Smith views the final 10 races of the season with the same importance as the drivers competing in the playoff championship run.

"'The excitement and hoopla will be on the Chase drivers and that's the way it should be," said Smith. "But that's not going to make any difference about how we will approach the final 10 races. Our Furniture Row Racing team has made some great gains this year, but now is the time to step it up again and get primed and excited for the 2012 season.

"We all feel that we're close to making another performance gain and the final 10 races, beginning with Chicagoland this weekend, are critical from our standpoint. Chase or no Chase, we'll be fighting and working as hard as those 12 drivers competing for the Sprint Cup championship."

Smith enters Sunday's GEICO 400 Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill with one win, two top-fives and four top-10s after the first 26 races of the season.

"This will only be my third time competing in the Sprint Cup Series at Chicagoland," noted Smith. "I believe we had a top-20 finish there last year (20th). This will be a good test to know where we are at from a performance standpoint with the intermediate tracks. If you want to succeed in this business you must have a strong program for the mile-and-a-half and two-mile tracks."

Smith's best finishes at intermediate tracks this season in his No. 78 Chevrolet were eighth at the May race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and 13th at Michigan International Speedway in August.

"It's been a while since we scored a top-10 (3rd, July 31st at Indianapolis) so it's time for our Furniture Row Racing team to knock out another strong finish," stated Smith. "To see how we compete against the Chase teams during the 10-race homestretch will be a good barometer for us."

###

Smith Avoids Wrecks, Finishes 18th in Richmond

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 10, 2011) -- In an accident and caution-marred race, Regan Smith brought home an 18th-place finish in Saturday night's Wonderful Pistachios 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

Smith, who started the 400-lap event from the 23rd position, was nearly one of the victims in the race, which saw 15 cautions for 85 laps.

While running in the mid 20s on Lap 172, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet did a smoky 360-degree spin on the .75-mile oval as he was attempting to avoid Paul Menard's spinning car. But a skillful driving job by Smith, kept the car from hitting the concrete wall and incurring major damage. The only repair needed was a set of four fresh tires.

"Our day could have ended right there," said Smith. "The way the race started (five multicar accidents before Lap 55), I didn't know if anyone was going to finish with their car in one piece. It was crazy, especially in the beginning."

Smith came back from the Lap 172 spin and fought his way through the pack of cars. He ran as high as 12th and when the 15th and final caution came out on Lap 384, he was positioned in 14th place. But when the race was restarted with 12 laps remaining he got trapped in traffic and couldn't break loose before the checkered flag waved.

"The ending was disappointing, losing four positions," stated Smith. "But in a sprint to the finish sometimes you just get bottled up and the last thing you want is to get wrecked at the end and spoil your entire day of racing. Our goal was a top-10 as it is every week. Overall our Furniture Row Racing team had a pretty good night of racing."

The result was Smith's third straight top-20 performance on a short track (less than one mile). He finished 17th in the April race at Richmond and 18th two weeks ago at the half-mile Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

"We're making progress on the short tracks and our recent performances have been better than what the final results have shown," noted Smith.

The race winner was Kevin Harvick. Rounding out the top-five in order were Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, David Ragan and Kurt Busch.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday, Sept. 18 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

###

Smith Qualifies 23rd in Richmond

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 23rd in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 9, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 23rd in Saturday night's Wonderful Pistachios 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the .75-mile short track during Friday's qualifying session in 21.397 seconds at 126.186 miles per hour.

"We were looking for a better result, just didn't get everything we needed," said Smith, who was 11th fastest in the first practice session. "As we do every race, we'll fight for every position tomorrow night."

The pole winner was David Reutimann (127.382 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jamie McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer.

Saturday night's race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

###

Smith Looking to Break Short Track Jinx

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Looking to Break Short Track Jinx

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 8, 2011) -- When it comes to racing at Richmond International Raceway, Regan Smith feels upbeat, knowing that his Furniture Row Racing team has shown continued improvement on NASCAR's short tracks. But what has eluded Smith in 2011 is a top-10 or better finish on a short track (less than a mile).

"It hasn't been for a lack of performance because we had our chances this season to score some good finishes at the short tracks in Bristol, Martinsville and Richmond," said Smith, who qualified on the outside pole in the April race at Richmond. "But something always seems to happen near the end of the race to prevent us from having a strong result."

Smith is looking to reverse his short track misfortune in Saturday night's Wonderful Pistachios 400 at the .75-mile Richmond venue.

"Our single-car Furniture Row Racing team has come a long way this season," stated Smith, who has one victory, two top-fives and four top-10s. "But we just haven't achieved what we expected to accomplish on the short tracks.

Smith's best finishes at short tracks this season were 17th at Richmond and 18th at the recent race in Bristol, Tenn.

"Our best shot for a top-10 short track finish this year was in Martinsville (April)," noted Smith. "We had a brake rotor problem late in the race. We were pretty sure that we were headed for at least a top-10 before we experienced the brake problem. I am cautiously optimistic about this weekend. I like the Richmond track, it's always fun to race there. I also like the enthusiasm and atmosphere of the crowd. It's a special place with a lot of tradition."

Smith is coming off a frustrating finish in Tuesday's rain-delayed race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He was running in the top 20 with 75 laps remaining, but then his No. 78 Chevrolet got clipped and crashed into the inside retaining wall.

"It was something that shouldn't have happened and it cost us a shot at having another strong finish," said Smith. "I wasn't happy with what happened, but we'll put that behind us and focus on Richmond. If we can have a clean race without being hit or have something go wrong mechanically we should be in good position when we take the checkered flag in Richmond."

###

Late-Race Hit Sends Smith to 33rd-Place Finish

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Late-Race Hit Sends Smith to 33rd-Place Finish

HAMPTON, Ga. (Sept. 6, 2011) -- Regan Smith was cruising along in 20th place in Tuesday's rain-delayed Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But with 75 laps remaining in the 325-lap, 500-mile event, he became a victim on the high-speed 1.54-mile oval.

He got turned by the No. 5 car (Mark Martin) on Lap 250, spun and crashed hard into the inside retaining wall. Smith was not hurt in the incident, but his car suffered major damage and was driven to the garage for repairs. The costly accident relegated Smith to a 33rd-place finish.

"At this point I don't know why I got hit, but it shouldn't have happened," said a disappointed Smith. "I was riding along and feeling good about how our Furniture Row Chevrolet was improving and then I got smacked by the (No.) 5 car. There was not any reason for it and it did cost us a finish someplace in the teens. Very disappointing to say the least."

Smith started the race from the 26th position and quickly bolted to the front, running in ninth place by Lap 20.

"We didn't have a perfect car, but it was getting better as the race wore on," stated Smith. "Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) made some good adjustments and I felt we were in good position for the finishing laps. But we never got that opportunity, which is very frustrating."

Smith did return to action after spending 41 laps in the garage while his crew made repairs to the heavily damaged Furniture Row car.

The finish dropped Smith one position in the standings -- from 25th to 26th. Jamie McMurray passed him and is now 16 points ahead.

"Those finishes in the 30s really set you back," said Smith. "With the new point system, it's much harder to gain ground. We have had too many races where we became the victim because of someone else's problems or mistakes. We can't keep on being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The next race for Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team is this coming Saturday night at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

###

Smith Qualifies 26th at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 26th at Atlanta Motor Speedway

HAMPTON, Ga. (Sept. 3, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 26th for Sunday night's AdvoCare 500 Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

In Saturday afternoon's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 1.54-mile oval in 30.270 seconds at 183.152 miles per hour.

"We improved from practice but paid the penalty by going out early in the qualifying session," said Smith. "The sun was beating down on the track when I went out, and as the session went on the conditions did get better. But I feel pretty good because we improved today in our race-trim setup. We have some ground to make up by starting 26th, but this is a high-speed track where you can pass."

The pole winner was Kasey Kahne (186.196 mph), Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers and Jeff Gordon.

Sunday's 325-lap race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 7 p.m. ET.

###

Chase or No Chase, Smith Says It's Always Crunch Time

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Chase or No Chase, Smith Says It's Always Crunch Time

No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet to Again Showcase Farm American Paint Scheme

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 31, 2011) -- As part of an ongoing initiative to promote the importance of the American farmer and rancher, Regan Smith will drive the No. 78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet in Sunday night's AdvoCare 500 Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

It will be the second of a recent three-race Farm American schedule for the Furniture Row Racing team, which is teaming with its financial partner Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers to increase the awareness of having a robust agriculture industry and bridging the communications gap between rural and urban America.

"It's always a special time when our Furniture Row Chevrolet showcases the Farm American paint scheme," said Smith. "It's a cause that is important to our U.S. food supply and we are proud to represent our farmers and ranchers. We had a nice finish with the Farm American car in Michigan (13th) and hopefully we can improve on that result in Atlanta this weekend."

While it's crunch time for the Chase contenders in the Sprint Cup Series, Smith says it's crunch time every week of the season for his Furniture Row Racing team -- from the first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. in February to the November finale in Homestead, Fla.

"Call it self-imposed pressure, but we go into every race feeling this is the time we need to make a move," said Smith. "We're a growing organization and feel good about the incredible progress we've made this season. But we're by no means where we want to be -- I would love to be fighting for a Chase position this week in Atlanta and next week in Richmond, but we're not. Hopefully our continued progression will get us to a point of being a Chase contender next year. That will obviously be our goal for 2012."

Smith and the single-car Furniture Row Racing team have shown signs that they can compete with the best of the best. The team has garnered one win, two top-fives and four top-10s this season. A marked improvement for the young franchise based in Denver, Colo since the team's career statistical columns for wins, top fives and top 10s were each listed with a zero prior to the 2011 season.

"If you look at the top teams it's consistency that got them to the top of the heap," stated Smith. "That's something we have to work on. I feel we've been more consistent with our performance than we have been with our finishes. We let some good results slip away. An example was last week in Bristol (Tenn.) when we ran in the top-10 for the first half of the race, but then got caught in traffic at the end and settled for an 18th-place finish."

Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row team will be looking to build on its past two finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Last season when Atlanta hosted two Sprint Cup races, Smith posted finishes of 14th and 17th.

"We have to bring the entire package to Atlanta from our main shop in Denver," explained Smith. "Atlanta is a very fast track so you need horsepower, aero and a really good handling car. That's the ultimate hat trick for a solid tune-up and I am confident we will have all three in Atlanta."

###

2nd Half Woes Drop Smith to 18th-Place Finish in Bristol

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

2nd Half Woes Drop Smith to 18th-Place Finish in Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 27, 2011) -- The performance was better than the result for Regan Smith, who finished 18th in Saturday's IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Smith, who ran solidly in the top-10 for the majority of the first half of the race, got trapped in the middle of pack during the second half of the 500-lap event, making it difficult to drive away from the congestion at the high-banked, half-mile oval.

Smith lost his hold in the top-10 during a green-flag pit stop on Lap 243 when he came down pit road in 10th place and went out 15th.

"There were a combination of issues during that stop and it definitely bit us because we weren't able to get back up front," explained Smith, who ran as high as fifth. "We were strong the first half of the race and felt we could get back up there. But it seemed like our Furniture Row Chevrolet was in a traffic jam for the entire second half of the race."

Smith added, "We were much better than our finish and that makes it frustrating. We qualified 12th and ran with the lead guys for a long time. We were a top-10 car and that's where we should have finished."

If there were a consolation for the Furniture Row Racing team, Smith finished on the lead lap and posted his 11th top-20 result of the season.

"I guess when I take a few deep breaths and let time heal some of the wounds tonight, I will probably say that we had a decent night of racing at a difficult venue," said Smith. "But right now I don't feel that way."

The race winner was Brad Keselowski. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Jamie McMurray.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday night (Sept. 4) at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 12th in Bristol

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 26, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 12th in Saturday's IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In Friday afternoon's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the .533-mile, high-banked oval in 15.721 seconds at 122.053 miles per hour.

"I am disappointed to be honest," said Smith, who posted the eighth fastest qualifying-trim lap in practice. "We qualified really well here last time (third). The Furniture Row Chevy was a little too loose. But we have a good car for tomorrow night and hopefully we can improve from our 13th-place finish last week in Michigan."

The pole winner was Ryan Newman (122.670 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin.

Saturday night's Sprint Cup race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a prerace show at 5 p.m. M T.

###

Short Track Result Top of Mind for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Short Track Result Top of Mind for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 24, 2011) -- While the numbers vividly show that Furniture Row Racing is enjoying its best season on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, there are still milestones to conquer according to team driver Regan Smith, including a top-10 or better result at a short track venue.

Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team will once again get the opportunity to showcase their short track skills in Saturday's Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, the .533-mile, high-banked oval.

"We've had a couple of opportunities this year to have a solid finish on a short track -- a top-10 or better -- but something beyond our control seemed to happen late in the race," explained Smith. "It's like anything else, we need to forget about past occurrences and focus on the present which is Bristol this weekend. We've been able as a team to post some career firsts this year, and a first top-10 on a short track would be a nice addition to the 2011 resume."

Smith's best opportunity to claim a top-10 at a short track was back in April at the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, but a broken brake rotor late in the race dashed any hopes of a top-10 result.

"We were on the right pit cycle and had a top-10 in sight at Martinsville," noted Smith. "That race told us that we can be a good short track team."

Smith, who is coming off a 13th-place finish in Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway, has come on strong in 2011 with one win, two top-fives, four top-10s and the sixth-best qualifying average.

"We definitely have the goods and the personnel to be successful at Bristol," said Smith. "This is a race we all enjoy except when you get banged around and the hits start to have an effect on your car's performance. We're coming off a decent finish in Michigan (13th) and would like to keep the momentum going in our Furniture Row Chevrolet."

Smith's first career Sprint Cup start came at the Bristol bullring in April 2007. He started 12th and finished 25th. His best Bristol finish was at the August night race in 2008 when he posted a 14th-place result. In the first race of the current season at Bristol (March 20), he started third and finished 22.

Saturday night's 500-lap race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

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Smith Closes Strong to Finish 13th in Michigan

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Closes Strong to Finish 13th in Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 21, 2011) -- Regan Smith poured it on during the green-white-checkered overtime finish, picking up seven spots in track position to give Furniture Row Racing a 13th-place finish in Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

"The driver absolutely did a stellar job on that last go and he really earned his keep today," said Furniture Row competition director Mark McArdle about Smith's final charge to the front.

Smith, who started 30th, his worst qualifying effort of the season, was fast early in the scheduled 400-mile race. After the first seven laps he already picked off nine positions.

"We were strong early then kind of stalled in the low 20s and high teens," said Smith. "But as the race went on our No. 78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet got better and I felt we had the power to move further to the front. But when that caution came out (Lap 168) after we pitted I thought our day was ruined."

Just after Smith took four tires and fuel on Lap 167 of 203, the yellow flag waved, putting Smith a lap down and in 26th place. He did get his lap back and when the final caution came out on Lap 198, he was running 20th.

Crew chief Pete Rondeau was faced with a difficult decision of whether to pit or not to pit for the green-white-checkered finish. As he weighed the pros and cons, he decided to call Smith to pit road to take four fresh tires.

"My gut said we needed new tires," said Rondeau. "You just never know. At the time I felt it was the right thing to do. Regan drove his heart out in those final two laps to give us a solid finish."

Smith said he was pleased to have the fresh tires which allowed him to have more grip on the two-mile oval.

"Pete made a good call at the end to take four tires," stated Smith. "We picked up seven positions to finish 13th, which turned out to be a good day for our Furniture Row/Farm American team. We didn't qualify well, but it sure feels good to battle back like we did today. Our pit crew was spot on today too. An overall great team effort."

Smith remained 25th in the driver point standings.

The race winner was Kyle Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin and Ryan Newman.

The next Sprint Cup race is Saturday night (Aug. 27) at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 30th in Michigan

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 19, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 30th in Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

In Friday afternoon's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet covered the two-mile oval in 38.639 seconds at 186.340 miles per hour.

"We just didn't connect with our qualifying setup today," said Smith. "The changes we made after practice didn't take. This is not what we anticipated, but we'll push harder on Sunday and work our way to the front. We need to take advantage of the two-hour practice session tomorrow to find the right tune-up for our Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet."

The pole winner was Greg Biffle (190.345 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin.

Sunday's 200-lap, 400-mile race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Support From Farmers and Ranchers, Smith Ready for Michigan Race

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Support From Farmers and Ranchers, Smith Ready for Michigan Race

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 17, 2011) -- When it comes to promoting a sponsor or a cause, NASCAR Sprint Cup winner Regan Smith has the special knack to articulate a message without sounding scripted.

The 27-year-old Smith will be wearing two hats this weekend at Michigan International Speedway (MIS), promoting the Furniture Row Racing team as well as the Farm American program, which will be showcased on his No. 78 Chevrolet.

The Farm American initiative that Smith and the Furniture Row Companies have been backing for more than a year has attained plenty of interest in the agriculture community, including a financial partner in Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers based in St. Johns, Mich.

Furniture Row and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers are teaming to promote the importance of having a stable and robust agriculture industry along with bridging the awareness gap between urban and rural America.

"I grew up in an agriculture area in Cato, N.Y. (near Syracuse) and my parents were both raised on a farm," said Smith. "So for me to have the opportunity to be a voice for the American farmer and rancher is truly an honor. Furniture Row cares deeply about the agriculture industry and I am proud to wear the Farm American colors this weekend in Michigan."

Smith's car will also carry the Farm American paint scheme at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sept. 4) and Kansas Speedway (Oct. 9).

Smith, who is one of the five first-time winners this season, feels that his No. 78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet has the power to do something special in Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 Sprint Cup race at the two-mile oval.

"Michigan should be a good race for our Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet," stated Smith. "We qualified fifth in the MIS June race and were running in the top 12 near the end. But on the last lap we got clipped, resulting in a very, very disappointing finish (33rd). MIS is the kind of track that we should be good at -- it's a matter of having a clean race."

Smith has five career starts at MIS -- his best finish was 21st at last year's August race.

After 22 Sprint Cup races this season, it's apparent that Smith is having a break-through year on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. He has one victory, two top-fives and four top-10s. His four top-10s came at NASCAR's four majors -- Daytona 500 (7th), Southern 500 (1st in Darlington, S.C.), Coca-Cola 600 (8th in Charlotte) and the Brickyard 400 (3rd in Indianapolis).

"We want to add to those statistics as we are already planning and preparing for the 2012 season," explained Smith. "We're happy about how we've improved this year, but we also know that we have to get to another level of competition. We're working hard to get there."

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Rain Washes Out Watkins Glen Race; Rescheduled for Monday

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Rain Washes Out Watkins Glen Race; Rescheduled for Monday

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 14, 2011) -- Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup road race at Watkins Glen International was postponed due to rain in the central New York area. The event is rescheduled for Monday 10 a.m. ET. The 90-lap race will be televised on ESPN.

Rain started to fall after driver introductions, and approximately three hours later, NASCAR made the call to postpone the race until tomorrow.

Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith will start 10th.

####

Smith Returning to Racing Roots

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Returning to Racing Roots,
Smith Looking for Strong Performance at The Glen

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2011) -- Regan Smith, who has pulled off four eye-catching finishes in four of NASCAR's biggest races this season, is looking to claim another solid result as he returns to his central New York roots for Sunday's Sprint Cup road race at Watkins Glen International.

Smith's motorsports career started to take shape when he was a 4-year-old in Cato, N.Y., 75 miles north of Watkins Glen and 25 miles west of Syracuse. He won divisional, regional and state championships in a quarter-midget type of car (microd) in the Syracuse area and throughout central New York.

His rise to NASCAR's top-tier division had some bumps along the way, but perseverance paid off for the 27-year-old Smith, who scored his first career NASCAR victory back in May in the historic Southern 500 race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Smith, who drives the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, also scored top-10 finishes this season in the Daytona 500 (7th), Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte (8th) and the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis (3rd).

"We've definitely picked up our performance this season," said Smith about his Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team. "We also let some strong finishes slip away. But overall it's been an exciting and fun season. We've reached a new level of competition this year and feel that we're close to another level. Achieving those results in the big races has been pretty special."

Smith would like nothing better than to pull off another stunning result Sunday in front of many of his hometown friends and family who will be attending the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen.

"Watkins Glen is my home track," stated Smith. "I have a lot of family and friends coming to the race and you always want to put on a good performance for them. I am really looking forward to spending some time in central New York this week. I haven't had a lot of experience on road courses but we are getting better."

Sunday's event will be only the third for Smith at Watkins Glen International and his sixth career Sprint Cup road race. His best finish on a road circuit came in June when he posted a 16th-place result at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Smith did have a shot at a top-15 finish last year at the Watkins Glen race but with five laps remaining his day ended with a mechanical failure to the car's track bar mount.

"I enjoy the road races and felt we made progress as a team in Sonoma this year," Smith noted. "We need to stay out of trouble and avoid mechanical issues. If we can do that, I am confident that we can pull off a good finish on Sunday."

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Smith Battles to 21st-Place Finish at Pocono Raceway

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Battles to 21st-Place Finish at Pocono Raceway

LONG POND, Pa. (Aug. 7, 2011) -- Despite handling issues with his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, Regan Smith managed to post a 21st-place finish in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

Smith, who started 17th, could not find consistency with the car's combination throughout the 200-lap, 500-mile race, which was red-flagged due to rain on Lap 124 for 1 hour, 40 minutes.

"We chased the setup today," said Smith. "We had some good runs, but overall the car's handling was an issue and we fought hard to finish where we did. There was that one green-flag run where we passed eight or nine cars and I thought we had the handling solved. But unfortunately that wasn't the case. There was a time when we would have been pleased finishing 21st, but we're at another level of competition and expect to have better finishes."

Smith remained 26th in the driver standings, only two points out of 25th and seven out of 24th.

"We have a lot of races remaining before the season ends in late November and we intend to keep on improving," stated Smith, who has notched a win, two top fives and four top 10s this season.

As Smith was leaving the Pocono facility his focus and thoughts were already on next weekend's race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., which will be the second and final road race of the season.

"Watkins Glen is my home track," said Smith, who grew up in Cato, N.Y. near Syracuse. "I have a lot of family and friends coming to the race and you always want to put on a good performance for them. I am really looking forward to spending some time next week in central New York."

The Pocono race winner was Brad Keselowski. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman.

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Smith Qualifies 17th in Pocono

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 17th in Pocono

LONG POND, Pa. (Aug. 6, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 17th in Sunday's Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway.

In Saturday's qualifying session, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 2.5-mile triangular track in 53.768 seconds at 170.558 miles per hour.

Smith entered the qualifying session after having the 12th and ninth fastest speeds respectively in Friday's two practice sessions.

"We slipped a little from practice, but nothing major," said Smith. "It's a long race (200 laps, 500 miles) and we have plenty of time to get to the front. I was really pleased with the performance of our Furniture Row Chevrolet in practice and hopefully that will transfer into tomorrow's race. We want to keep the momentum after finishing third last week in Indy."

The pole winner was Joey Logano (172.055 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Furniture Row to Showcase Farm American Initiative

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Furniture Row Racing to Showcase Farm American Initiative
At Upcoming NASCAR Races in Michigan, Atlanta, Kansas

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 4, 2011) -- In a continuing effort to support the American family farmer and rancher, Furniture Row Racing announced that its No. 78 Sprint Cup Chevrolet, driven by Regan Smith, will display the Farm American initiative as a major associate sponsor at three upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup races -- Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 21), Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sept. 4) and Kansas Speedway (Oct. 9).

Furniture Row Companies and its Farm American financial partner - Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers - are teaming to promote the importance of having a stable and robust agriculture industry along with bridging the awareness gap between urban and rural America.

"The national reach that NASCAR delivers is a perfect stage to have a conversation with race fans about the many contributions the American farmer and rancher make on a daily basis," said Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing.

"We are excited to work with Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers as we continue to seek additional financial partners for the Farm American program. We are encouraged with the feedback from the agriculture industry, which employs directly and indirectly more than 22 million people in the American workforce."

Based in St. Johns, Mich., Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is a manufacturer and marketer of premium crop nutrition. An industry leader since 1983, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers joined Furniture Row Racing's Farm American program earlier in the year as a financial and communications partner.

Members of the Furniture Row Racing team will take part in Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers public open house -- Wednesday, Aug. 24 in Ashley, Mich. -- to celebrate the company's new manufacturing facility. The No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet will also appear at the event.

What They're Saying About The Farm American Program

Barney Visser
Team owner Furniture Row Racing,
Chief Executive Officer Furniture Row Companies
â€œThe number of job losses in the American furniture industry due to unfair competitive practices by international governments has been devastating. To see the same trends occurring in our food supply, leaving us subjected to possible interruptions and unequal standards is something we see as worth fighting for.

â€œI donâ€™t want America to fall asleep on this issue â€“ this is where America needs to come together. I believe in the free market system, but weâ€™re not free when we ask our farmers and ranchers to compete against foreign governments and potentially harmful standards that put us and our families at risk.â€

Albert Bancroft
Communications and Marketing Manager
Agro-Culutre Liquid Fertilizers
"Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers believes in and stands behind the efforts Farm American is making to educate consumers about food production in a fun and entertaining way. As a company that provides a full line of premium products from coast-to-coast, we are enthusiastic about partnering with Furniture Row Companies for a greater cause. We look forward to kicking off the three-race Farm American program in our home state of Michigan."

Celeste Settrini
President
California Women for Agriculture
California Women for Agriculture is thrilled to be partnered with the Farm American initiative. By being supportive of this project we can be part of a bigger Ag picture, supporting those who support us. Farmers and Ranchers across America are eager to reach out and build relationships with our consumers. Through the Farm American project we can do that by the millions, starting and carrying conversations about American Agriculture. Now its time for others to step up and invest with those who have carried this program to date. Thank you Furniture Row and Agro Liquid Fertilizers for Farm American! We are excited to be in the drivers seat with you!

Smith Tosses First Pitch

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Nervous Regan Smith Tosses First Pitch
With Success at Rockies-Phillies Game

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 3, 2011) -- Regan Smith said he was more nervous throwing out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday at Coors Field than he was prior to competing in Sunday's Brickyard 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

But as he did with his third-place Brickyard finish in his No. 78 Chevrolet, the Furniture Row Racing driver came through again before the Colorado Rockies-Philadelphia Phillies baseball game. Smith hurled the baseball with authority to Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta.

"The pitch was high, but it was over the plate with some heat," said a relieved Smith, who practiced throwing a baseball the day before outside the team's race shop in Denver.

"Better than 90 percent of the throws," a fan yelled to Smith, who graciously responded with a wave and a thumbs up.

When Smith walked to the pitcher's mound wearing a No. 78 Rockies jersey, he was greeted with a roaring applause as the Jumbotron in left-center field ran footage of his victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

"That was a very nice reception," said Smith. "Being at Coors Field -- an awesome facility -- was truly special. The Colorado folks have adopted us as their NASCAR team and we are equally as proud to represent them week in and week out on the Sprint Cup circuit."

Following the ceremonial first pitch, Smith conducted an autograph session at Coors Field.

"I want to thank the Rockies organization for the invite," said Smith. "It was a great day for our Furniture Row Racing organization."

It will be back to racing business for Smith in a few days, who will be looking to continue his Indianapolis success in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

"We have some momentum now after finishing third in Indy last week and it's time for us to string a number of good finishes together," explained Smith. "We've been running better lately and that's a good sign of things to come. Pocono should be a good track for our Furniture Row Chevrolet -- we're capable of coming away with a top-10 finish. In fact, it is our goal at every race to have a top-10 result."

Smith added, "Fuel mileage played in our favor Sunday at Indy, but not at New Hampshire a few weeks ago. I hope that Pocono is a straight-up race and not another fuel mileage deal. I am not a big fan of fuel mileage races."

###

Smith to Throw Out First Pitch at Rockies Game

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Regan Smith to Throw Out First Pitch
Wednesday at Colorado Rockies Game

DENVER (Aug. 1, 2011) -- Regan Smith, driver for the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Wednesday afternoon's (Aug. 3) Major League Baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field.

Smith, who is coming off an impressive third-place finish in Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is looking forward to the 60-feet, 6-inch throw.

"I've been fortunate to participate in many neat things throughout my career and throwing out the first pitch at a Rockies game is going to rank right up there," said Smith. "I am really excited about this opportunity and hope I can throw a strike."

Smith and Furniture Row Racing are enjoying their best season, which was highlighted by a victory in early May at the historic Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

The next Sprint Cup race for Smith and Furniture Row Racing is Sunday (Aug. 7) at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

###

Once Again Regan Smith Nails It On The Big Stage

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Once Again Regan Smith Nails It On The Big Stage

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (July 31, 2011) -- After finishing third in Sunday's Brickyard 400, it is becoming apparent that Regan Smith and Furniture Row Racing like to perform on the big stage.

Prior to the 2011 season neither Smith nor the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row team had a top-10 result. But that has changed this season in a big way.

The 27-year-old Smith has secured top-10 finishes in four of NASCAR's crown jewels. He was seventh in the season-opening Daytona 500 (Feb. 20), won the Southern 500 (May 7 in Darlington, S.C.), was eighth in the Coca-Cola 600 (May 29 in Charlotte) and third in today's mid-summer classic at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"We just have to figure out how to perform on the other stages," Smith said jokingly. "It was an awesome day and we're having an awesome year -- a credit to the entire Furniture Row Racing organization."

The smiles and fun reached another level for Smith when he crossed the finish line after conserving fuel during his final 33-lap, green-flag run.

Two weeks ago at New Hampshire in the previous Sprint Cup race, Smith ran out of fuel with a few laps remaining, spoiling a strong finish. But today the gamble paid off as Smith was begrudgingly saving fuel as he was approaching the leaders on the 2.5-mile oval.

"I wanted to push our Furniture Row Chevrolet a little harder and go for the win at the end," Smith stated. "But Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) kept on pulling me back. He kept on saying when I wanted to go, 'No, No, No, Save, Save, Save.'

"The competitive side of me wanted to take a chance -- it's hard for any racer to hold back when they smell victory. But the smart decision was to listen to Pete and you certainly can't be disappointed with a third. Pete and the crew did a great job today and they deserve this great finish."

Finishing ahead of Smith were Jeff Gordon (second) and race winner Paul Menard, a close friend of Smith.

"I am so happy for Paul, I know what he is feeling, especially at this place where his family has so much history," said Smith, who stopped by Victory Lane to offer congratulations to Menard.

The key moment for Smith came on Lap 121 when pieces of infield grass covered his radiator grille as he avoided Landon Cassill's spinning car.

The incident, which brought out a caution, forced Smith to come down pit road twice to clean off the grille. And on the final stop, the No. 78 crew used the opportunity to top off the fuel tank.

"That probably made the difference of having enough fuel," said Rondeau. "We lost track position due to the incident, but it also gave us an opportunity to go the distance while many of the other cars were forced to pit for fuel. A little luck plus a strong race car usually equals a solid finish. And that's how it turned out for us today."

Smith gained one position in the driver point standings.He is currently 26th, three points behind Jeff Burton for 25th place.

The next big stage event for Smith will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Wednesday afternoon's (Aug. 3) Major League Baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field in Denver.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday Aug. 7 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

###

Smith Qualifies 27th for Brickyard 400

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 27th for Brickyard 400

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (July 30, 2011) -- A problem in Turn 4 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway spoiled Saturday's qualifying run for Regan Smith, who will start 27th in Sunday's Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup race.

Smith, driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, covered the 2.5-mile oval in 49.744 seconds at 180.926 miles per hour.

"Turn 4 killed the run, I didn't get the speed that was needed in that corner," said Smith, who was 11th fastest in qualifying-trim practice. "Based on practice, we were looking for a much better starting position than 27th. I guess that means we're going to have to work a lot harder to get our Furniture Row Chevrolet to the front. While I am disappointed in our qualifying performance I feel good about how well we practiced in race trim."

The pole winner was David Ragan (182.994 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Snapping Another Jinx is Smith's Indy Goal

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Snapping Another Jinx is Smith's Indy Goal

DENVER, Colo. (July 27, 2011) -- It's been a year of snapping jinxes for Regan Smith, who is looking to erase more bad memories while competing in this weekend's Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Furniture Row Racing driver is looking to reverse the misfortunes that he encountered at the last two Brickyard races.

"Taking in all factors about Sunday's race, I truly feel that our Furniture Row Chevy has the potential to do something special at Indy," said Smith. "We had a pretty good run going there last year until a mechanical issue spoiled our day, which was also the case the year before."

Smith was running inside the top-15 at last year's Brickyard 400, but at the mid-point of the race (Lap 101 of 200) smoke started to fill his cockpit due to a burned rear-end gear. After a number of unscheduled pit stops and a trip to the garage, Smith ended the day with a 33rd-place result.

"I was bummed after last year's race because this is Indy, one of our biggest races, and to see a strong performance go south that quickly was very discouraging," recalled Smith.

The good news for Smith: he does realize that jinxes don't last forever. He seemed to be jinxed at the Daytona 500, but he snapped that problem this year by finishing seventh in February's season-opening race.

A few months later Smith snapped his win jinx. After seeing victory snatched away from him at the 2008 Talladega fall race due to a final-lap passing penalty, Smith rode his Furniture Row machine to a win in May at the Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C.

"It's been a pretty good year, but still could be better," stated Smith, who has three-top-10 finishes to go along with his victory. "Yes, we've had some things go our way, but there have also been races that we let a strong performance slip away due to unforced errors. But Indy is a track that we know we can do well on."

Smith will be driving a new Furniture Row Chevrolet at the Brickyard and his crew chief, Pete Rondeau, feels things are in place for a successful weekend.

"I don't like to predict because there are too many variables in this sport," said Rondeau. "What I do know is that we'll be prepared for this weekend, and minus an unforeseen issue, the Furniture Row Chevrolet should have a good day on Sunday. We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves."

Though the mechanical issues the past two years at Indianapolis were scarring for Smith, it doesn't dampen his enthusiasm about racing at the historic 2.5-mile oval.

"Going through the tunnel and then seeing the enormity of Indianapolis Motor Speedway gives you a few chills," said Smith, who started racing as a 4-year-old in central New York. "This is an incredible venue and I am truly honored to have the opportunity to race at this historic track."

###

Smith Qualifies 11th in New Hampshire

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

LOUDON, N.H. (July 15, 2011) -- Regan Smith produced a strong qualifying effort Friday and will start 11th in Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.058-mile oval in 28.484 seconds at 133.717 miles per hour.

"We had a good day -- might have left a little on the table, but overall a solid effort by our Furniture Row Racing team," said Smith. "The car felt good and we'll do some fine tuning during our two practice sessions tomorrow. Track position is critical here and that's one more reason I am pleased about starting on the inside of Row 6."

The pole winner was Ryan Newman (135.232 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Tony Stewart, David Reutimann, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski.

Sunday's race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Smith Not Ready to Stand Pat in Second Half of Season

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Not Ready to Stand Pat in Second Half of Season

DENVER, Colo. (July 13, 2011) -- It didn't take Regan Smith long to answer how he would like to start the second half of the 2011 Sprint Cup season.

"The same way we started the first half of the season, but a few positions better," Smith said succinctly.

Smith will get that opportunity Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 begins the second half of the 36-race season.

Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team are both off to their best start ever, which was triggered by an impressive showing at the season-opening Daytona 500, where Smith finished seventh after leading the race with five laps remaining.

Following Daytona, Smith hit a streak of bad luck with accidents and mechanical malfunctions. But the luck cycle eventually turned and the ultimate success came on May 7 when he captured his first Sprint Cup victory at the historic Southern 500 race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

"If we are fortunate to win more races the victory at Darlington will still be extra special because it was the first," said Smith. "We not only want to keep the momentum going in the second half, but we want to kick it up a few notches too. And when the final checkered flag waves at Homestead-Miami Speedway, we want to look back and say that we showed improvement right to the end of the year."

But before the Cup series finishes the season in late November, Smith must contend with the present -- the 1.058-mile flat track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

"Going from a road course (Sonoma), to a superspeedway (Daytona), to a mile-and-a-half (Kentucky) and now to New Hampshire's one-mile track is pretty exciting," noted Smith. "I like the different configurations each week and have a good feeling that our Furniture Row Chevrolet is going to also like New Hampshire."

Sunday's race at the track known as the Magic Mile, will be Smith's eighth start. His best finish was 19th in last year's September race.

"Hopefully we can produce another highlight for the 2011 season with a strong run on Sunday," said Smith. "A flat track like New Hampshire is what many of the Cup drivers cut their teeth on in the early years."

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Smith Posts 17th-Place Finish in Kentucky Inaugural Race

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Posts 17th-Place Finish in Kentucky Inaugural Race

SPARTA, Ky. (July 9, 2011) -- A steady performance by Regan Smith landed the Furniture Row Racing driver a 17th-place finish in Saturday night's inaugural Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway.

Smith, who started the race from the 12th position, virtually rode in the top-20 throughout the 267-lap, 400-mile event. An untimely caution after making a green flag pit stop in the late stages of the race stalled Smith's charge to the front.

"We were better than 17th tonight," said Smith. "That caution didn't help, but our Furniture Row Chevrolet also had some handling issues that made it difficult to pass. But we still managed to fight through the problem with a respectable result."

Witnessed by a capacity crowd of more than 100,000 fans, the Quaker State 400 marked the halfway point of the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.

"There was definitely a buzz this weekend at Kentucky Speedway and it was exciting to be part of this inaugural event," said Smith. "The first half of the season is in the books and our goal is to reach another level of competition in the next 18 races."

During the first half of the 2011 season Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team achieved a number of highlights, including a victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

"We've come a long way, but still have more to accomplish," stated Smith.

The Kentucky race winner was Kyle Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: David Reutimann, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (July 17) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

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Qualifying Washed Out; Smith to Start 12th in Kentucky

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Qualifying Washed Out; Smith to Start 12th in Kentucky

SPARTA, Ky. (July 8, 2011) -- A brief shower late Friday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway forced NASCAR officials to cancel Sprint Cup qualifying. The 43-car starting lineup for Saturday night's Quaker State 400 was set according to the earlier practice speeds.

Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith posted the 12th fastest speed (181.439 mph) in Friday's only practice session at the 1.5-mile oval. He will start the inaugural Cup race from the outside of Row 6.

"I was really hoping the rain would hold off because I wanted to qualify," said Smith. "We had more left in the car when we ran the 12th fastest lap in practice. But on the other hand, a 12th place starting spot isn't too bad either. I am more excited about how well our Furniture Row Chevy ran in practice than anything else right now."

Kyle Busch, who posted the fastest speed in practice (182.803 mph), will sit on the pole. Rounding out the top-five starters in order are: Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson.

Saturday night's race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute preace show at 4:30 p.m. MT.

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Smith Looking to Reverse Kentucky Memory

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Looking to Reverse Kentucky Memory

DENVER, Colo. (July 6, 2011) -- Though it's been four years since he competed at Kentucky Speedway, the memory is still vivid for Regan Smith. And it's not a fond memory according to the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing driver.

What happened to Smith in the 2007 Kentucky Speedway Nationwide Series race has nothing to do with the venue. In fact, Smith recently stated that he is looking forward to returning to the Bluegrass state for Saturday night's inaugural Quaker State 400 Sprint Cup race at the 1.5-mile oval in Sparta, Ky.

But those Kentucky memories still linger for Smith about how he saw a possible victory snatched away due to a fuel issue while driving the No. 4 car for Ginn Racing in his 101st out of 102 Nationwide career races.

"We were the dominant team that evening, but didn't give ourselves a chance to win due to a fuel miscalculation," recalled Smith. "I qualified on the pole and led a number of opening laps (45) and felt we were going to win the race. But when I was leading and called into the pits for an early stop, I was already out of fuel. That put us a lap down and out of contention. I guess you could say I have some unsettled business to take care of at Kentucky Speedway."

It could be said that Smith and Furniture Row Racing have been taking care of business all year. The single-car team out of Denver, Colo. is enjoying its best season with a win, three top-10s, an outside pole and a berth in the Sprint All-Star Race. Smith is also tied with Carl Edwards for the best qualifying average of 11.235.

"It's been good, but could be better, especially on the 1.5 and two-mile tracks," said Smith. "The mile-and-a-half and two-mile venues were good to us last year and we felt coming into the 2011 season that we could make up some ground at those tracks. But that hasn't been the case and hopefully we can change that this weekend at Kentucky."

Except for an eighth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Smith's record has been uncharacteristically sub par on the 1.5 and 2.0-mile tracks with an average finish of 26.3 in six races.

"Yes, we've had some issues at those tracks, like accidents and equipment malfunctions, but overall we still need to pick up our performance," explained Smith. "We know as a team that we should be better at these tracks and that's one reason we're excited about the upcoming Kentucky race. We're aiming to come away with a good result in Saturday night's race."

The Kentucky race will be the 18th of the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.

"It's really hard to believe that we're almost halfway home with the schedule," noted Smith. "We're having fun and hopefully the second half of the season will be even better than the first half."

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Smith to Conduct Autograph Session

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Regan Smith to Conduct Public Autograph Session at Denver Furniture Row Shopping Center

DENVER, Colo. (July 5, 2011) â€“ Regan Smith, Furniture Row Racing NASCAR driver, will conduct a public autograph session in Denver this coming Sunday (July 10) from 1 â€“ 2:30 p.m. MT.

The special event will take place in the Oak Express store at the Furniture Row Shopping Center, located on North Broadway at 58th and I-25.

A show car replica of Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet will be on site during the autograph session. Furniture Row merchandise for purchase will also be available.

Smith is enjoying his best season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He scored his first career victory, winning the historic Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in early May. With the season approaching the halfway mark, Smith also has three top-10 finishes, including an impressive performance of seventh in Februaryâ€™s Daytona 500.

The Denver Furniture Row Shopping Center consists of Sofa Mart, Oak Express, Bedroom Expressions and Denver Mattress.

About Furniture Row Companies
Operating more than 330 stores in 31 states, the Furniture Row Companies make up one of the largest family-owned specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers. Furniture Row is dedicated to donating to charitable organizations such as World Vision, The Salvation Army, the Tim Tebow Foundation and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. For more information, please visit: http://www.FurnitureRow.com.

For information about Regan Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team visit: http://www.FurnitureRowRacing.com.

Late Multicar Wrecks Result in 24th-Place Finish for Smith at Daytona

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Late Multicar Wrecks Result in 24th-Place Finish for Smith at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 2, 2011) -- A Saturday night cruise-along suddenly turned into a demolition derby at Daytona International Speedway.

And one of the victims in the late-race wreckfest was Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith, who limped home with a battered race car to a 24th-place finish in the Coke Zero 400.

The wild Sprint Cup finish resulted in the race being extended from 160 to 170 laps with two green-white-checkered overtime restarts.

As Smith was looking to make a move in the first green-white checkered restart, he got collected in a Turn 1, 15-car melee on Lap 164. His No. 78 Chevrolet suffered major right-side damage in the incident.

"No doubt, we had an injured race car, but were still hoping to salvage a decent finish," explained Smith. "But on the final lap, the left rear tire went flat and I was fortunate to just finish the race."

The flat tire on the final lap was not the only problem that Smith faced. He was involved in another major wreck, an 18-car accident not far from the finish line.

Before being wrecked twice, Smith drove a patient race as he mainly teamed with Kurt Busch in the tandem draft on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The Furniture Row Chevrolet ran up front for a good portion of the race and led twice for four laps.

"We ran well with Kurt as we did here during Speedweeks back in February," said Smith, who finished seventh in the season-opening Daytona 500. "Even though we got shuffled to the middle of the pack before the first big wreck happened tonight, I still felt we could have made a move and picked up a number of spots in track position. But those wrecks and flat tire ended any hopes of that happening."

The race winner was David Ragan, his first career victory. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch.

The next race for the Furniture Row Racing team is Saturday night (July 9) -- the inaugural Sprint Cup event at Kentucky Speedway.

###

Smith Qualifies 28th in Daytona

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 1, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 28th in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway.

In Friday afternoon's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet lapped the 2.5-mile oval in 50.041 seconds at 179.853 miles per hour.

Smith, who led the Sprint Cup Series in qualifying with an average of 10.188 entering the Daytona race, was not fazed with his starting position for the 160-lap, 400-mile event.

"We only had 45 minutes of practice yesterday and our concentration was in race trim," said Smith. "We feel good about our Furniture Row Chevrolet. When it comes to working the draft tomorrow night we know that our car will be good at pushing and being pushed. With that said I am confident that we'll hook up with good partners throughout the race. The key is to make sure you're with the right partner during the closing laps of the race."

The pole winner was Mark Martin (182.065 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Trevor Bayne, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon and David Ragan.

Saturday night's race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 4:30 p.m. MT.

###

Smith to Conduct Daytona Autograph Session

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith to Conduct Public Autograph Session at
Daytona Beach Furniture Row Shopping Center

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 27, 2011) -- NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Regan Smith will conduct a public autograph session at the Daytona Beach Furniture Row Shopping Center on Friday, July 1 from noon â€“ 1 p.m.

The special event will take place at the Oak Express store, located at 830 North Tomoka Farms Road -- approximately a 10-minute drive from Daytona International Speedway.

A show car replica of Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet will be on site during the autograph session. Furniture Row merchandise for purchase will also be available.

Smith, who will compete in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona's 2.5-mile oval, is enjoying his best season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He scored his first victory this season at the historic Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He finished seventh in Februaryâ€™s Daytona 500.

The Daytona Beach Furniture Row Shopping Center consists of Oak Express, Denver Mattress, Sofa Mart and Bedroom Expressions.

About Furniture Row Companies
Operating more than 330 stores in 31 states, the Furniture Row Companies make up one of the largest family-owned specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers. Furniture Row is dedicated to donating to charitable organizations such as World Vision, The Salvation Army, the Tim Tebow Foundation and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. For more information, please visit: http://www.FurnitureRow.com.

For information about Regan Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team visit: http://www.FurnitureRowRacing.com.

Directions to Furniture Row Shopping Center
From Daytona International Speedway:

Go west on International Speedway Blvd to Tomoka Farms Road
Take Right on Tomoka Farms Road -- Furniture Row Shopping Center will be on left

Smith Looking for Another Daytona Jolt

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Next Sprint Cup Race
Saturday Night (July 2)
Coke Zero 400
Daytona International Speedway

Another Daytona Jolt is What
Smith Needs For Possible Chase Berth

DENVER, Colo. (June 29, 2011) -- Regan's Smith breakout year started to take shape before the first Sprint Cup points race of the 2011 season.

Heads started to turn toward the Furniture Row Racing driver when he placed second in February's 150-mile qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway, which set the 43-car lineup for the season-opening Daytona 500.

The strong performance in the qualifier was by no means a fluke. The 27-year-old Smith went on to have an equally impressive race in the 500, where he led with five laps remaining before an accident cost him a shot at winning NASCAR's biggest prize.

Despite the late-race accident and front-end damage to his No. 78 Chevrolet, Smith still managed to post a seventh-place finish in the Daytona 500, which at the time was his best-career result.

The Daytona 500 momentum has had a positive effect on Smith, who scored his first career win in May at the historic Southern 500 race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

When asked if Daytona Speedweeks was a turning point, Smith said, "I'm not sure about a turning point, but it sure triggered some of the good things we accomplished since February. We knew coming into the season that we had the potential to step it up a notch or two, but it's one thing to feel it and another thing to do it. We did it at Daytona and we've been carrying the momentum ever since."

Smith and his single-car team out of Denver, Colo., return to the famed 2.5-mile oval of Daytona International Speedway for Saturday night's Coke Zero 400, the traditional event contested on the weekend nearest to Independence Day.

"We were fairly pleased finishing 16th in Sunday's road race at Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.), but no matter how much we enjoy the road circuits, superspeedways are our comfort zone," noted Smith. "That's why we're excited about coming back to Daytona because it's a place where we know that we have a good shot at contending for the victory. Furniture Row Racing has always had a strong (restrictor) plate program."

Along with a win, Smith enters Daytona's summer race with three top 10s. He is also the Sprint Cup Series qualifying leader with a 10.188 starting average after 16 of 36 races.

"We've put up some good numbers this year, but yet, we have also let a lot of points slip away too," said Smith, who is 28th in the driver standings. "Bad luck, mechanical issues and some mistakes have cost us dearly in points."

Smith's six finishes of 30th or worse have hurt his chances of being in the top 20 and the opportunity of making the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. Under the new Chase rules, the first 10 drivers in points qualify along with two drivers with the most wins positioned in 11th to 20th.

"We have 10 races remaining before the Chase begins and still have a shot at finishing in the top 20," stated Smith. "But we have to avoid bad luck, mistakes and mechanical problems. We need to get on a good streak."

Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 will be Smith's eighth points race at Daytona International Speedway. Along with his seventh-place finish in this year's 500, his other best result was 12th at the 2009 summer race.

###

Smith's Daytona Int'l Speedway Record
St Fn
2/17/08 29 37
7/05/08 8 24

2/15/09 42 21
7/04/09 43 12

2/14/10 11 39
7/03/10 31 33

2/20/11 5 7

Smith Finishes 16th in Sonoma

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Produce
Solid Effort in Sonoma Road Race

SONOMA, Calif. (June 26, 2011) -- In only his fifth career Sprint Cup start on a road course, Regan Smith hustled his way to a 16th-place finish in Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.

It was not only Smith's best-ever road-race finish, but it was also a career-best road-race result for the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team.

"The goal this weekend was to make a big improvement with our road-racing program and I feel we accomplished that goal," said Smith, whose previous best Cup finish on a road course was 30th at the 2007 Sonoma race.

Smith also did something on a road course that he has not done before and that is to lead laps. His No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet led for five laps.

"I agree that the improvement on a road course was accomplished today, but I still think we could have done better -- it's hard to walk away satisfied with a 16th-place finish," explained Smith. "I am happy how we rebounded but we did let some positions slip away at the end."

After leading laps 83-87, Smith came into the pits following a caution for four fresh tires and fuel. Since he was on a different pit cycle than some other cars, he restarted 15th when the green flag flew for the final time on Lap 92 of 110.

By Lap 96 he passed six cars and was running ninth. But with tire wear and continuous logjams on the 10-turn, 1.99-mile circuit, he fell back to 16th when the checkered flag waved.

"You always want more and I felt we could have had an even better finish," noted Smith. "Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) called a great race from the pit box and our over-the-wall crew came through. It was an overall team effort."

Smith started the race from the 24th position and managed to keep his Furniture Row Chevrolet on the track as cars were spinning every which way through the left-and-right-hand turns.

"For the little experience he has had on road courses, Regan did an outstanding job today," said Rondeau. "He drove patiently and passed cars when the opportunity was there. It was a solid effort."

The race winner was Kurt Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Marcos Ambrose.

The next Sprint Cup race is Saturday night (July 2) at Daytona International Speedway.

###

Smith Qualifies 24th for Sonoma Road Race

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 24th for Sonoma Road Race

SONOMA, Calif. (June 24, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start Sunday's road race at Infineon Raceway from the 24th position.

In Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road circuit in 77.851 seconds at 92.022 miles per hour.

"We lacked some grip and that's all it takes to drop down in the field," said Smith, who entered the event with the season's No. 1 qualifying average. "I was comfortable with the Furniture Row Chevy in race trim during today's practice, and we'll do more fine tuning in tomorrow's two practice sessions."

Smith will be starting his fifth career Cup road race and his third at Infineon Raceway.

"It's all about experience and I feel that we're getting closer to having a breakthrough performance on a road course," explained Smith.

The pole winner was Joey Logano (93.256 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman.

Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350, the first of two Cup road races of the season, will be televised live on TNT. The one-hour preace show begins at noon MT.

###

Smith Aiming for Breakthrough Road Race

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Aiming for Breakthrough Road Race

DENVER, Colo. (June 22, 2011) -- Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. will be Regan Smith's third career start at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road circuit, and his fifth overall on a road course.

Though he enjoys driving up and down hills and hustling through curves making left-and-right-hand turns, he knows that more experience is necessary before he feels totally comfortable on a road course.

"I like the road course races, but I am not sure if the road circuits like me," said a candid Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. "The Sonoma race will be my fifth career start on a road course and I haven't had that much success so far. But I know that will change, it's a matter of getting more experience."

Smith enters the Toyota/Save Mart 350k with more optimism than he has had in past years. The reason is due to a recent test session at the Virginia International Raceway (VIR) road course.

"We tested the Furniture Row Chevrolet at VIR last week and were really pleased with the results," noted Smith. "Now we have to transfer what we learned to this weekend's race at Infineon Raceway. When you race on ovals nearly every week, this is a nice change of pace to make both left-and-right-hand turns. "

Smith, who is enjoying his best season as a professional stock car driver, is looking to check off a strong road course result. He's already checked off this season his first Cup win (May 7, Darlington, S.C.), first top-10 (7th in Daytona 500), first outside pole (Richmond) and first All-Star Race berth.

"Our expectations might not be high this weekend, but I am hoping for a road course breakthrough at the same time," explained Smith. "As the old cliche goes, I am cautiously optimistic. I really want to improve on the road circuits. Our next road race at Watkins Glen (central New York) is the closest track to where I grew up in Cato, New York and you always want to do well for your hometown fans and family."

In his previous two starts at Infineon Raceway, Smith finished 30th (2007) and 38th last year.

Smith is coming off a heartbreaking result in last week's Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

On the final restart with five laps remaining, Smith was holding down 11th place. But as drivers were jockeying for positions during the closing laps, Smith made contact with another car, which resulted in a cut tire. He limped to the checkered flag with a 33rd-place finish.

"That ending in Michigan hurt," said Smith. "That's why a solid performance this weekend is important. We want to have some momentum going into Daytona next week."

###

Heartbreak Ending for Smith at Michigan

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Heartbreak Ending for Smith at Michigan

Furniture Row Driver Finishes 33rd

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 19, 2011) -- The beginning was frustrating, but the ending was heartbreaking.

In between the start and the finish it appeared it was going to be another good day for Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team.

After suffering right-front damage to his No. 78 Chevrolet on Lap 10 of 200 as a result of a pit-road incident with Dave Blaney's car, Smith fought back from the rear of the field. And when the green flag waved for the final time on Lap 195 at Michigan International Speedway, he was running in 11th place.

"We were looking good at that point," said Smith.

But then came the closing five laps when Smith not only got trapped in traffic, he got snarled with the No. 21 car of Trevor Bayne, which resulted in Smith's Chevrolet cutting a right-front tire.

As the tire started to deflate, all Smith could do was limp to the checkered flag in 33rd place in the 15th Sprint Cup race of the season.

"I believe we were running 11th or 12th on the final restart and things just started to go south in a hurry," explained Smith. "I got trapped in traffic on the restart and near the end of the race I got tangled with (Trevor) Bayne's car and cut a right-front tire."

Smith added, "Instead of a top-12 or top-15 result, we finished 33rd. That was a lot of points we lost out on. The good side of the coin is that we fought hard all day and put ourselves in a solid position at the end, but couldn't finish it off. No question, this one hurt. To see all those valuable points disappear in an instant is not a good feeling right now."

Smith started the race fifth, his eighth top-five qualifying effort of the season. He also regained the qualifying-average lead of 9.226.

Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 race winner was Denny Hamlin. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard and Carl Edwards.

The Sprint Cup circuit heads to Sonoma, Calif. for next Sunday's (June 26) road race at Infineon Raceway.

###

Smith Qualifies 5th in Michigan

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Regains No. 1 Starting Average With
5th-Place Qualifying Result in Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 18, 2011) -- Regan Smith regained the No. 1 season starting average after posting a fifth-place qualifying effort for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

In Saturday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet lapped the two-mile oval in 38.378 seconds at 187.607 miles per hour.

It will be the eighth time in 15 races this season that Smith will start in the top-five. His Sprint Cup leading qualifying average is 9.226.

"It was a good qualifying effort," stated Smith. "We had some work to do on the car yesterday after practice and the right adjustments were made. I left a little bit out there, I didn't come through turn four the way I wanted to -- we lost some time there. But overall it was another strong qualifying run for our Furniture Row Chevrolet."

The pole winner was Kurt Busch (188.699 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: David Reutimann, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers and Smith.

Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

###

Commitment Propels Smith, Furniture Row Racing to New Heights

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Commitment Propels Smith, Furniture Row Racing to New Heights

DENVER, Colo. (June 15, 2011) -- On their way to Michigan International Speedway for this weekend's Sprint Cup race, Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team took a detour to southeastern Virginia to test their road-racing cars at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in preparation for next week's road-course eventy in Sonoma, Calif.

"Because our team is based in Denver, Colorado that doesn't mean we can't do the same things as the teams based in North Carolina," said Smith. "The ownership and management at Furniture Row are deeply committed to putting the best product on the track week in and week out. Testing at VIR is only one small example of that commitment and the team guys are equally dedicated. As a driver it's a great feeling to know that you have this kind of support."

Smith knows that when he gets strapped into his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet for Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 that the potential is there to compete up front.

After the first 14 races of the season he has claimed one win (Darlington), one top-five and three top 10s. He has qualified in the top-five in 50 percent of the races and ranks second in starting average with a 9.571. Carl Edwards leads with a starting average of 9.357.

"Our recent 15th-place finish in Pocono was decent, but as I have said in the past, we're just okay with top 15s, we want to have results in the top-10 and top-five. Though we're making steady progress, we need to get stronger if we want to get in the top-20 in points and have a possible wild card spot in the Chase."

With his one victory this season, Smith could land a wild card Chase berth based on NASCAR's new criteria for making the post-season lineup. But in order for Smith to take advantage of the victory he needs to be positioned in the top-20 in points.

"We gained some ground last week by picking off two positions," noted Smith, who is currently 27th in points, 47 shy of the coveted top-20 ranking. "We know it's doable, but we can't afford the big mistakes or the big crashes."

The two-mile Michigan track is a facility where Smith and the Furniture Row team feel they can make up ground, barring any unexpected issues.

"Michigan is a track where I truly feel we can produce a strong performance," explained Smith. "It's wide and you can pass there. Last year we had solid performances at MIS but didn't get the finishes (21st and 23rd) that our Furniture Row Chevrolet deserved. It's time to change that and come away with a strong finish and a bunch of Sprint Cup driver points."

###

Smith Finishes 15th in Pocono

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

LONG POND, Pa. (June 12, 2011) -- The Furniture Row Racing team continues to make steady gains as Regan Smith brought home a 15th-place finish in Sunday's 5-Hour Energy Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

The result was Smith's fifth top-15 of the season and his best finish in only six career starts at the Pocono track, known as the Tricky Triangle.

Smith, who posted a strong fifth-place qualifying effort, rode in the top-10 early in the 200-lap, 500-mile event. But as the race wore on, he experienced handling issues, which dropped him to mid-pack as he maneuvered his way through the three challenging corners.

"We might have been a little better than 15th, but overall that's pretty much what our Furniture Row Chevrolet had today," said Smith. "We lost some track position early, but thanks to our pit crew we managed to make a pretty good gain late in the race. This is a challenging track and each time I come back here I feel more comfortable about figuring out this place."

Smith gained two spots in the driver point standings and now sits in 27th place after 14 of 36 races completed.

"We're not where we want to be in points and we're going to keep battling until we get there," stated Smith. "You know, we're just okay with top-15s. We really want those top-10s and top-fives. Another win would be great too. We've been a little inconsistent lately and hopefully today's result will trigger a streak of solid finishes for our Furniture Row team."

The race winner was Jeff Gordon. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.

The next Cup race is this coming Sunday (June 19) at Michigan International Speedway.

###

Smith Qualifies 5th in Pocono

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

LONG POND, Pa. (June 11, 2011) -- Regan Smith came roaring back on Saturday as the Furniture Row Racing driver qualified fifth for Sunday's 5-Hour Energy Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

The result was Smith's seventh top-five qualifying effort in the first 14 Cup races of 2011.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 2.5-mile three-turn, tricky triangle in 52.581 seconds at 171.164 miles per hour. He made the biggest gain of more than two seconds from Saturday's first practice session when he was ranked 28th with a time of 54.774.

"It was a strong lap, and it even feels better when you make a huge improvement from practice to qualifying," said Smith. "A real credit to Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) and the crew for making the right adjustments. We needed just a hair more to get that pole, but we'll take a top-five. While our qualifying trim was not up to par in practice yesterday, our race trim setup was real good, which is a good sign for tomorrow's race."

The pole winner was Kurt Busch (52.454/171.579). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Paul Menard, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Smith.

Sunday's race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

###

Smith Aims to Tame Another Challenging Track

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Aims to Tame Another Challenging Track

DENVER, Colo. (June 8, 2011) -- All the prerace chatter about Pocono Raceway's three-turn configuration, the long straightaway or the much anticipated tunnel turn doesn't faze Regan Smith.

"This is NASCAR and we want to have challenging and unique tracks to race at; it would be pretty boring if all the venues where identical," said Smith, as he gets ready for Sunday's 5-Star Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, knows about challenging and unique race tracks. His victory on May 7 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway is considered one of the most challenging as it continues to live up to its moniker -- The Track Too Tough To Tame.

"I like the idea of going to a different-style track," stated Smith. "You have your favorites and there are some tracks that might not suit your style the best or that might wear on your psyche a little. But overall I like them all. A negative approach about a facility can only hinder your performance."

Although he has only competed in five-career races at the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway, Smith's main concern in not about the track, but finding more consistency with his No. 78 Furniture Row team.

"Pocono is where we need to start nailing down consistent finishes in our Furniture Row Chevrolet," said Smith. "Lately, it's been one good race, one bad race. You can't have that, we need to start stringing some good results together. The potential is there, but we need to avoid mistakes and mechanical issues."

After his win at Darlington, Smith's next race at Dover produced a 34th-place finish due to a broken track bar mount. He came back strong at Charlotte, finishing eighth. But slipped last week in Kansas with a 24th-place result.

"If we can have an error-free race I feel we can come out of Pocono with a strong finish," noted Smith. "We were decent there last year, and after only five career races at Pocono I am understanding the tunnel turn and the configuration of the track much better."

Last year in his fourth and fifth career starts at Pocono, Smith posted finishes of 18th and 21st.

###

Smith Qualifies 11th in Kansas

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (June 4, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 11th in Sunday's STP 400 Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway.

In Saturday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.5-mile oval in 31.138 seconds at 173.422 miles per hour.

"It was a solid qualifying effort and we look forward to carrying our momentum into tomorrow's race," said Smith, who is coming off an eighth-place finish from last week's Cup race in Charlotte, N.C. "We almost solely concentrated on race trim during yesterday's two practice sessions and feel that we'll have a good Furniture Row Chevrolet for the 400-miler."

The pole winner was Kurt Busch (174.752 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Juan Pablo Montoya, Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers and Joey Logano.

Sunday's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 10:30 a.m. MT (11:30 a.m. Kansas time).

###

Regan Smith Keeps Checking Away

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Regan Smith Keeps Checking Away

DENVER, Colo. (June 1, 2011) -- With one-third of the 36-race NASCAR Sprint Cup season completed, Regan Smith has already checked off five of his preseason goals.

* first career top-10 finish
* first career top-five finish
* first career win
* first career outside pole
* first career Sprint All-Star berth

There are a few check marks still missing, including one for a first career pole. But looking at Smithâ€™s starting positions in the first 12 races an argument could be made that he has overachieved in his qualifying efforts.

The Furniture Row Racing driver shares the best starting average of 9.83 with Carl Edwards. Smith nearly earned his first pole at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, but settled for second.

There have also been a few other 2011 highlights -- finishing second in the Daytona 500 qualifying race and nearly pulling off a Daytona 500 victory. He led the 500 with five laps remaining, but fell out of contention a few laps later when he was involved in a multicar accident. Despite the accident, he still managed to finish seventh in NASCAR's premier race.

"I guess when you sit back and analyze the first 12 races, it's been a pretty good start for the Furniture Row Racing team," said Smith. "I feel we reached a new level of competition and are close to another level. We let some races slip away, but overall it hasn't been that bad."

Smith added, "The success thus far is a credit to the team's ownership, management, competition department, and to all the loyal crew guys, who always give more than 100 percent."

Smith is coming off his third top-10 finish of the season with an eighth-place result in Sunday night's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

As the Cup series begins the next third of the season this weekend with the STP 400 at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, Smith is looking to add a few more check marks.

"Coming into the season we felt the mile-and-a-half and two-mile tracks would be our strong suit," noted Smith. "However, we didn't take advantage of those tracks early on in Las Vegas, California and Texas. But last week we brought home an eighth-place finish in Charlotte. With Kansas being another 1.5 miler, I feel optimistic that our Furniture Row Chevrolet can produce a solid finish."

With 14 more races remaining before the Chase begins, Smith's main mission is to get into the top-20 in driver points so he can become Chase-eligible as a wild card selection due to his Darlington victory last month. He currently sits 29th in the standings, 44 points from the top-20.

"It's doable to make the top-20 as long we don't beat ourselves," said Smith. "We have to race smart and avoid trouble."

###

Smith Hangs Tough, Finishes 8th in Charlotte

Sun, 29 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Hangs Tough, Finishes 8th in Charlotte

3rd top 10 of season for Furniture Row driver

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 29, 2011) -- Perseverance, patience and the right pit strategy lifted Regan Smith from being two laps down to an eighth-place finish in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The result was Smith's third top-10 result after the 12th race of the season, and the second top-10 in the last three Sprint Cup point events.

"I guess you can say the longest race of the season paid off in our favor," said Smith. "We were patient, and crew chief Pete Rondeau made the right calls on the pit box. It all came together for our Furniture Row team at the end."

Smith, who started the race from the 20th position, was running in 12th place when he was penalized for a loose lug nut on Lap 234. The incident put Smith two laps down.

"We had a pretty good Furniture Row Chevrolet but then a lug nut issue knocked us to the back and it was a battle from that point on," explained Smith. "But we kept our cool and didn't quit fighting for track position."

It took until Lap 308 for Smith to get back on the lead lap. He fought hard in gaining track position and it wasn't until near the end of the race when he jumped from what appeared to be a top-15 finish to a top-10.

On the final caution (Lap 397), Smith came down pit road to take two tires and fuel. That decision paid off as a number of cars who gambled of not pitting, ran out of fuel as the race was concluded with a green-white-checkered overtime finish.

"The pit strategy was perfect, which was the main reason we made a pretty good leap near the end of the race," noted Smith. "It was a good points day as we continue to fight for a top-20 position in the driver standings."

Smith, who is in position to be one of the Chase selections due to his win in Darlington, S.C. three weeks ago, needs to finish in the top-20 to be a wild card pick for the 10-race championship playoff. He is currently in 29th place, 44 points from 20th. There are 14 more races before the Chase begins.

"It's definitely doable, we need to race smart like we did tonight," added Smith.

The race winner was Kevin Harvick. Rounding out the top-10 in order were: David Ragan, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Marcos Ambrose, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Smith, David Reutimann and Denny Hamlin.

The Sprint Cup Series next race is Sunday (June 5) at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

###

Smith Qualifies 20th for Coke 600

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 20th for Coke 600

CONCORD, N.C. (May 26, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 20th in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In Thursday evening's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet lapped the 1.5-mile oval in 28.456 seconds at 189.767 miles per hour.

"We were looking for better, but didn't quite get it," said Smith. "This is the longest race of the year so the starting position is not as important as in other races. But our goal is to work our way to the front and be strong during the closing laps. I love this track and feel we can do something good here."

The pole winner was Brad Keselowksi (192.089 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: AJ Allmendinger, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Jeff Burton.

Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season, will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 3:30 p.m. MT.

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One Year Later Smith, Rondeau Tandem Making a Move

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

One Year Later Smith, Rondeau Tandem Making a Move

DENVER, Colo. (May 25, 2011) -- Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway marks the one year anniversary when Pete Rondeau took over the crew chief role for driver Regan Smith and Furniture Row Racing.

Without bias or argument, the Rondeau/Smith duo in one year, along with the entire Furniture Row team, have made a big leap in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The exclamation mark for the Denver, Colo.-based team came three weeks ago when Smith won at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, his first career win, and also the first win for the Furniture Row Racing franchise.

"We've made some gains, but we have more to make," said Rondeau. "You don't look back at what you accomplished, you need to look forward. We have good chemistry, good communication, a talented staff and a committed management. You can't ask for more. I feel we're going to continually get better as the season progresses."

Smith, whose strong season finish in 2010 with three top-13 results in the last seven races, was an indicator of what was to come in 2011.

The 27-year-old Cato, N.Y. native started the season strong, nearly winning the Daytona 500. He led with five laps to go, but a few laps later he was shoved into the wall. But he hung on to finish seventh, his first career top-10.

After the first 11 races of the current season, Smith made his mark as a top qualifier. He continues to lead the Sprint Cup Series with an 8.9 starting average.

"No question, we have come a long way, but there's still a long way to go," explained Smith. "We have definitely made progress. Now that we won a race, I am not sure if you can really be happy if you don't take the big trophy home. But as Pete (Rondeau) keeps on saying, we need to stay patient, calm and not get ahead of ourselves. He's been a good leader and has helped me a lot as a driver."

Smith added, "We've seen the highs and the lows in the past three weeks, and the highs are what we need to get back to. After the big win in Darlington (May 7), we had a mechanical issue in Dover and last week at the Sprint All-Star Race a fuel problem kept us from making a charge at the end."

The Coca-Cola 600 will be Smith's fifth start at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and he is looking to pick up where he left off. At last year's fall race at CMS, he posted a 13th-place finish.

"I love this track, and deep down, I know we can do well here," said Smith. "The good news is that our Furniture Row Chevrolets the past two races have been solid when they were healthy. I am looking for the same in the Coca-Cola 600 -- a strong race car, capable of running up front. We just need to avoid the gremlins and not make mistakes."

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Accident, Fuel Issue Force Smith to Retire Early From All-Star Race

Sat, 21 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Accident, Fuel Issue Force Smith to Retire Early From All-Star Race

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 21, 2011) -- A double whammy late in Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race dropped Regan Smith to a 20th-place finish.

While patiently running in the top 14 with 22 laps remaining in the 100-lap race, Smith spun out after taking a hit from the No. 17 car (Matt Kenseth). Though Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet suffered damage and was aerodynamically handicapped, it was still able to continue in the competition at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

But as Smith was getting ready to pit before the final 10-lap segment, his car stalled on the track and was pushed to the team's pit box by a safety vehicle. Unfortunately, the Furniture Row crew was not able to restart the car after a number of attempts, forcing Smith to retire from the race 10 laps shy of the finish.

"A very disappointing end to an exciting week of Sprint All-Star activities," said Smith. "I am not sure why our Furniture Row Chevrolet wouldn't fire at the end, it could have been a fuel pump issue or a number of other reasons. But to be part of the Sprint All-Star Race for the first time in my career was an awesome experience. To qualify for this race next year will be one of our main goals."

Smith earned a berth in the non-points Sprint All-Star Race as a result of his Southern 500 win two weeks ago at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

The Sprint All-Star winner was Carl Edwards. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kyle Busch, David Reutimann, Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle.

Sprint Cup action will continue next Sunday (May 29) at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the running of the Coca-Cola 600, the longest points race of the season.

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Smith Qualifies 17th for Sprint All-Star Race

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 17th for Sprint All-Star Race

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 20, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 17th in Saturday night's non-points Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In Friday's unique qualifying session at the 1.5-mile oval, which included three timed laps and a four-tire pit stop, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet was clocked in 124.528 seconds at 130.091 miles per hour.

The pole went to Kyle Busch's No. 18 team with a time and speed of 119.191 seconds at 135.916 mph. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Mark Martin.

Smith will be among 22 drivers participating in the four-segment all-star race of 50, 20, 20 and 10 laps. The winning purse is $1 million.

SPEED will have continuous coverage of the all-star races, beginning with the preliminary Sprint Showdown at 5 p.m. MT, followed by the Sprint All-Star Race at approximately 7 p.m. MT.

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Smith Won't Be Couch Potato at This Year's All-Star Race

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Won't Be Couch Potato at This Year's All-Star Race

DENVER, Colo. (May 18, 2011) -- In past Sprint All-Star races, Regan Smith was a forlorn television viewer, watching his fellow competitors compete in NASCAR's prestigious event.

But this year's all-star classic, slated for Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, will be different for the Furniture Row Racing driver.

As a result of winning the May 7th Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Smith qualified for his first career appearance in the Sprint All-Star Race. He will be among the 22 drivers participating in the four-segment race of 50, 20, 20 and 10 laps

"The past three years I've been on my couch sitting and watching it (all-star race) and it's been absolutely miserable," said the 27-year-old Smith. "This year I am going to be one of those drivers battling for the hardware and the $1 million payout."

As soon as Smith crossed the finish line at Darlington to win his first NASCAR race, he knew the victory meant an automatic berth in the Sprint All-Star event.

"One of the first comments I made on the radio (after winning at Darlington) was, 'hey, weâ€™re in the All-Star race now, guys!' ", recalled Smith. "And certainly thatâ€™s something that every driver in this garage thinks about. I know sometimes everybody says oh well, it is what it is and weâ€™ll see how it all goes down or whatever. But for me, thatâ€™s a thrill to be in that race."

Smith went on to say that he is also thrilled the Darlington win qualified his pit crew for Thursday night's Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.

"I am so happy, so proud and pumped up about our Furniture Row pit crew being one of the teams competing in the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge," stated Smith. "These are the perks of working hard and being successful. They've earned this honor and I'll be there to cheer them on."

Smith knows that a win in the Sprint All-Star race could give him and his Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row team another major boost before the Sprint Cup Series resumes points racing at the May 29th Coca-Cola 600, also at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"There's plenty to shoot for out there and we're going for it all," said Smith. "The Sprint All-Star Race is a no-holds-barred event and we'll be ready to do battle. Once you win, you don't forget the taste of victory. We want more."

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Broken Part Ruins Smith's Late-Race Charge at Dover

Sun, 15 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Broken Part Ruins Smith's Late-Race Charge at Dover

DOVER, Del. (May 15, 2011) -- A broken track bar mount spoiled Regan Smith's dash to the finish in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.

As he completed a strong green flag run on the Monster Mile, which was followed by a solid pit stop, Smith radioed his crew during a caution (Lap 334 of 400) to say that something was seriously wrong with his Furniture Row Chevrolet. He was then instructed by crew chief Pete Rondeau to bring the car to the garage where the broken right-side mount was diagnosed.

Though Smith returned to action after the problem was eventually repaired, he was a number of laps down. He was credited with a 34th-place finish in the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks.

"What a difference a week makes," said a disappointed Smith, who captured his first NASCAR win in Darlington, S.C. last week. "The frustrating thing is that our Furniture Row Chevrolet was coming to life just before the track bar mount broke. Our car really picked up steam during the second half of the green flag run before that caution came out. We were definitely in position to make a late-race charge and get a nice finish out of this race."

Smith started the race 11th and ran in the top 10 for nearly the first 100 laps. But then his car went through a handling issue and dropped back to 20th in track position. It appeared he was going to get lapped as the race was approaching the 300-lap mark.

But instead of getting lapped, Smith's car kicked into another gear on the all-concrete surface. At the time of the track bar incident, he was running in 16th place and moving forward.

"I could see the lead car behind me and then all of a sudden the Furniture Row Chevy took off," explained Smith. "At that point of the race we were running similar lap times as the leaders and managed to gain four positions (from 20th to 16th) in a short period of time. The potential for a top-10 finish was there, but we let it slip away due to the breakage."

Smith added, "It hurts because we had a good car and wanted to continue the momentum from last week's win in Darlington. But we know we had a fast car today and we will continue to have fast cars. We'll bounce back, and I am very confident about that. This is a good race team."

The next event for Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based team will be Saturday night's (May 21) Sprint All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It will be Smith's first career appearance in the prestigious event which will pay $1 million to the winner.

"I can't wait for the Sprint All Star Race, that's an event I've always wanted to be part of," stated Smith, who earned the All Star berth as a result of his Darlington victory.

The next Cup points race will be the May 29th Coca-Cola 600 also at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Rain Cancels Cup Qualifying in Dover; Smith to Start 11th

Sat, 14 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Rain Cancels Cup Qualifying in Dover; Smith to Start 11th

DOVER, Del. (May 14, 2011) -- Persistent rain at Dover International Speedway forced NASCAR officials to cancel Saturday's Sprint Cup qualifying session. The 43-car starting field for Sunday's FexEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks was set according to the fastest speeds from Friday's practice sessions.

Regan Smith, driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, will start 11th -- the inside of Row 6.

"We're good and I am happy with how our car handled yesterday in practice," said Smith. "Our goal is to stay on the lead lap, run up front and get as many points as possible. We want to be there at the end because you never know what can happen. We proved that last week in Darlington. My only concern right now is having dry weather so we get this race completed."

Starting on the pole will be Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order will be: A.J. Allmendinger, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Joey Logano.

The 400-lap, 400-mile race at the Monster Mile will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 30-minute prereace show at 10:30 a.m. MT.

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Regan Smith Smiling All The Way to Dover

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Regan Smith Smiling All The Way to Dover

DENVER, Colo. (May 12, 2011) -- The excitement of winning his first NASCAR race has not abated by any means according to Regan Smith, who stunned the motorsports world Saturday night with a gutsy performance in capturing the Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

If anything, the excitement after his first taste of victory has only crescendoed as Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team head to Dover (Del.) International Speedway for Sunday's Sprint Cup race -- the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks.

"I'm having so much fun since Darlington," said the 27-year-old Smith. "It's been an awesome experience and it makes me want to win again even more."

Smith said he didn't have any idea when he left Darlington what the following days were going to be like. He didn't expect the many congratulatory messages from fans, fellow drivers, the folks in Denver where his Furniture Row team is based, family and friends from where he grew up in the Syracuse, N.Y. area and the ongoing media blitz.

"I didn't have a clue what I was about to face," noted Smith, who has handled more than 50 media interviews since taking the checkered flag in Darlington. "I haven't quit smiling and laughing. No doubt, it's been the best post-race week of my career. I am sure it's been the same for Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) and all the guys."

The quick-thinking Smith was the first to realize that his first win came with some hefty perks. When he was taking his victory lap in his Furniture Row Chevrolet at the 1.366-mile Darlington oval, he radioed his team members to inform them they are now qualified for the Sprint All-Star race and that his crew would be part of the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge.

"With the hoopla, money and prestige involved with the Sprint All Star events, this is a big deal and a huge morale boost to everyone associated with our Furniture Row Racing team," explained Smith. "I am really happy for our pit crew, they've done a great job and they deserve the honor."

But while the All Star perks are huge, there is even a bigger carrot dangling for Smith and the Furniture Row Team. The victory immediately put Smith in position for a possible Chase berth. Under NASCAR's new Chase rules, the top-10 drivers in points automatically qualify and the next two positions are awarded to the drivers with the most wins who are in the top-20 in points.

"Right now, we're one of those two teams with the most wins, but we're not in the top-20," said Smith, who continues to lead the Cup series in qualifying with an 8.7 starting average. "We're 27th in points and have our work cut out, but I firmly believe that we can get to the top 20. We would be there now had it not been for some horrible luck early on in the season."

But all that bad luck was quickly erased when Smith brought home the Darlington trophy at one of the toughest, if not the toughest, tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit.

"The win is even more sweet because it came at Darlington, one of my favorite tracks," stated Smith. "It wasn't the place where I thought I would get my first win, but I am sure happy it was at Darlington at the Southern 500 race. In my opinion, it's one of the top-four races in our series."

Regarding Dover and the all-concrete Monster Mile, Smith said, "It's another one of those difficult tracks that you better have respect for. Dover also ranks real high on my favorite-track list. It would be incredible to win again, but a strong performance and a good result would continue to keep the smiles on our faces."

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Smith Wins in Darlington to Score First NASCAR Victory

Sat, 07 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Wins in Darlington to Score First NASCAR Victory

First Win Also for Furniture Row Racing

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 7, 2011) -- After he took the checkered flag to win his first NASCAR race, an emotional Regan Smith, with his voice cracking, radioed his crew to tell them how proud and happy he was for the entire Furniture Row Racing organization.

The victory in Sunday night's SHOWTIME Southern 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway was not only the first for Smith, but also the maiden win for the Denver-Colo.-based team.

The only other time Smith had a brush with victory was at the 2008 fall race in Talladega, Ala. when his apparent win as a driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc. was nullified by NASCAR for passing Tony Stewart below the out-of-bounds yellow line on the final lap.

But Saturday night at the 62-year-old historic Darlington Raceway, Smith was officially referred to as a NASCAR winner.

"I don't really know how to put it in words right now -- it is so surreal," said Smith, whose previous best finish was seventh in the season-opening Daytona 500.

As the jubiliant Smith was celebrating the Mother's Day weekend victory with his teammates, he took time to talk about his mother, Lee Smith, his biggest fan since he started racing as a 4-year-old in the Syracuse, N.Y. area.

"First and foremost to all the Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day," stated Smith. "My Mom is not here -- she's in Tuscaloosa, Alabama helping with some of the tornado recovery efforts with animals. 'Mom, hi, I love you. Sorry you missed this one.' "

Before the 27-year-old Smith showed his emotional side, he was a steadfast, hard-charging driver who refused to get passed in the final 11 laps even though his No. 78 Chevrolet was running on older tires.

Smith assumed the lead on Lap 360 as a result of not pitting for fresh tires during a caution. The gutsy decision to stay out, while running in the top six, was made by crew chief Pete Rondeau.

"Pete made a great pit call -- that won the race for us," noted Smith.

The soft-spoken Rondeau, who took over the crew chief duties nearly one year ago, said about the pit call, "It's a split-second decision. Sometimes you make out well with it and sometimes you don't. I was leaning one way and said, 'What the heck, we'll ask Regan where he's headed. He said we're both on the same page.' "

As he was positioned in front of the field, Smith tenaciously held off the challengers on the Lap 363 restart. But two laps later, the yellow flag waved again, sending the scheduled 367-lap race into overtime with a green-white-checkered finish.

For the second time, Smith held his ground in his Furniture Row Chevrolet, powered by an Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR) engine. He took the lead on the final restart and never looked back, crossing the finish line .196 of a second ahead of Carl Edwards.

Regarding the last restart, Smith said, "Carl was on the outside and he had fresh tires or fresher tires than I did. I spun them real bad on the first one (restart, Lap 360) and I just backed it up a notch on the second restart and went with it. It stuck and I held it wide open in (turns) one and two on the first lap and tried to hold it wide open in (turns) three and four also. The car was good when I got in clean air. I can't be more proud of this team."

The last lap did present a nail-biting moment for the Furniture Row team when Smith scraped the infamous Darlington wall.

"I hit the wall in turn two on the white-flag lap but the chances of me checking up there were about zero," explained Smith. "I could have torn the right front off and kept going. I don't think anybody realizes how much work has gone into getting this program where it is out of Colorado. Joe Garone (general manager), Barney Visser (owner), all of them. Man, we are in the All Star race! We have all kinds of cool stuff going on."

Yes, by virtue of the win, Smith automatically qualifies for the May 21st Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Smith, who entered the race as the top qualifier with a 7.1 average, started 22nd -- his worst qualifying effort of the season.

"The car was good all night, I don't think we made many big adjustments," said Smith.

He added, "I won a race at Darlington. The names who have won here...the Pearsons, Yarboroughs and on and on, you name it. I was sitting behind some of those guys today and I was thinking, 'Man, these guys are pretty awesome. They are legendary.' I don't know if my name deserves to be next to them, but after tonight, maybe it does."

Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing general manager, talked about what the victory meant for the organization.

"This is not only a big deal for Barney (Visser, team owner), but also for Furniture Row Companies, which consists of Denver Mattress, Sofa Mart, Bedroom Expressions and Oak Express, for standing behind the team. It's been a long road. It's been six years building this team and literally from scratch. Tonight just solidifies all that hard work and shows the racing community that you can win races outside of the normal North Carolina area."

The congratulations were pouring in to Smith, especially from his fellow drivers -- Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr to name a few.

When asked about Smith's victory, Earnhardt said, â€œWell, Regan is an awesome talent and a really, really good person. Itâ€™s good to see a good guy win. And heâ€™s worked really hard to get into this sport and to become a full-time driver in this series. And he deserves what they achieved tonight."

Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team will take the Darlington momentum to next week's Cup race (May 15) at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

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Regan Smith Wins at Darlington

Sat, 07 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Regan Smith stayed out on older tires and held off Carl Edwards through two restarts at Darlington for his first career win.

Smith Qualifies 23rd in Darlington

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies 23rd in Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 6, 2011) -- Regan Smith qualified 23rd for Saturday night's SHOWTIME Southern 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway.

In Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.366-mile oval in 27.647 seconds at 177.871 miles per hour.

Due to wet weather in Darlington, the first practice session was cut short while the second session was canceled.

"The weather played havoc for all the teams today," said Smith. "We were focused on race trim and really never got dialed in with our qualifying setup because of the lack of practice time. We have a good race car and I am looking to improve upon our 17th-place finish we had here last year."

The pole winner was Kasey Kahne (181.254 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon.

Saturday night's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

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Smith Still Gaga Over The Lady

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Still Gaga Over The Lady

DENVER, Colo. (May 4, 2011) -- Though she's daunting, intimidating, menacing, ominous and threatening, Regan Smith is still in love with the Lady in Black.

The Lady in Black is one of NASCAR's code names for Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, the narrow 62-year-old egg-shaped oval that has caused more grief, anxiety, and yes, car damage than most venues in the Sprint Cup Series.

"It's a thrill to race at Darlington," said Smith. "But you have to have plenty of respect for the track. At each turn on every lap it seems like that hard concrete wall jumps out at you. That's how close you are to the wall. One little misstep, you'll have one of those infamous Darlington stripes. But no matter how difficult and intimidating that we make it sound like, Darlington Raceway is still one of my top-three favorite tracks. I love to race there."

So far in only three career Sprint Cup starts at Darlington, Smith has managed to avoid major trouble at Darlington. His finishes in order have been 29th (2008), 21st (2009) and 17th (2010).

"I like the yearly improvement we've had at Darlington and hopefully we can improve on last year's finish of 17th," noted Smith. "But first things first. You need to finish the race without heavy car damage. Lose focus for a split second, you'll most likely be in the fence and then in the garage with a banged up race car."

Smith, whose 7.1 qualifying average continues to lead the Sprint Cup Series, is looking to build on the past two race finishes of 15th at Talladega and 17th at Richmond during Saturday night's Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

"The past two finishes have been somewhat encouraging for us with 15th and 17th-place finishes in Talladega and Richmond," said Smith. "It's not where we want to be, but considering what we endured the previous six races our Furniture Row Chevrolet is heading in the right direction. We need to stay patient and get as many points as possible. We have a lot of ground to make up, but I am confident that we'll get it done."

Furniture Row crew chief Pete Rondeau agrees with his driver about the team's improvement.

"We need to continue to finish races and then shoot for those top 10s," said Rondeau. "We had a pretty rough stretch after Daytona, but we hung in there and didn't let all of the bad luck affect us."

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Smith Finishes 17th in Richmond

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

RICHMOND, Va. (April 30, 2011) -- Regan Smith drove a steady race as he posted a 17th-place result in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. It was Smith's best finish in six career starts at the .75-mile short track.

Smith, who started on the outside pole, ran solidly in the top 10 for the first 80 laps of the race. But as the race wore on he experienced some issues with his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

However, in the closing stages of the race, it appeared that Smith was back in contention for a top-10 finish, but untimely cautions threw a curve into the team's pit-stop strategy.

"We're avoiding trouble and making headway and those are important positives after the bad luck we experienced in the early races of the season." said Smith, who continues to lead the Cup series in qualifying with a 7.1 average after nine races. "We were looking for a better result tonight, but we didn't get the breaks with the cautions late in the race. The key is that we stayed patient and finished the race without a major incident. I feel good about where we are at and look forward to the upcoming races."

Smith added, "Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) and all the guys on the road crew and at the shop are really dedicated to seeing this team reach new levels. There's still plenty of unleashed talent with this Furniture Row team."

The winner of the race was Kyle Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, David Ragan and Carl Edwards.

The next Sprint Cup race is Saturday night (May 7) at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Enter Richmond Race Feeling More Upbeat

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Enter Richmond Race Feeling More Upbeat

DENVER, Colo. (April 27, 2011) - A respectable finish, followed by a rare weekend off, have resulted in a needed mood swing for driver Regan Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team.

After experiencing a six-race, hard-luck streak, Smith came back to post a 15th-place finish two weeks ago at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Though Smith was not pleased with the finish at the time he took the checkered flag, he has since realized that it was a decent result, considering what he and the team endured in the previous six weeks of competition.

"We were much better than 15th at Talladega and felt we had a shot at winning the race," said Smith, who led five different times in the superspeedway event. "But looking back at that performance and the final result, it was an important step to where we want to eventually get to. I feel better now about the Talladega performance than I did after the race. I was actually bummed after the race because we ran up front for most of the day. Losing our drafting partner late in the race proved costly for our Furniture Row Chevrolet."

Smith is looking to build on the Talladega finish in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race -- Crown Royal Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

"I really like the Richmond track even though we haven't had much success there," said Smith. "We've been through an awful period of bad luck and hopefully Talladega's finish is the start of good things for our Furniture Row Chevrolet. Deep down I know we can perform with the leaders -- our qualifying efforts have proven that. But if we can't avoid trouble we're never going to get there. I am not looking for good luck, I just don't want any bad luck. It's our job to make the good luck. It's time that we live up to some of those preseason expectations."

Smith has indeed knocked it out of the park in Sprint Cup qualifying during the first eight races of the season. His starting average of 7.8 leads the Cup series.

"Yes, it's been disappointing that we haven't been able to take advantage of our excellent starting positions," noted Smith. "But our qualifying efforts have been a big boost to the overall team morale. We're going to try and qualify on the pole at every race. Fridays have been a lot of fun this year."

Smith has only five Cup starts at the .75-mile Richmond track. His best finish was 21st in May 2008.

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Smith Finds No Solace in 15th-Place Talladega Finish

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Finds No Solace in 15th-Place Talladega Finish

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 17, 2011) -- Considering the bad luck that Regan Smith has endured the past two months you would think a 15th-place result would bring on a few smiles.

Not so.

In fact, it was more of a long face for the Furniture Row Racing driver following Sunday's Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

"Guys, we were much better than 15th, no doubt about it," stated Smith to his crew after taking the checkered flag in the second of four superspeedway races of the season.

Smith later said, "We ran up front for most of the race but got shuffled back near the end and couldn't find the same drafting success we had earlier. These cars are so sensitive -- they can draft well with one car but not with another. I don't know why. But I do know that it was sure disappointing not mixing it up at the end and contending for the victory."

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet was indeed one of the premier cars at the 2.66-mile oval.

Smith led five different times during the 188-lap race and it appeared that he would at least better his seventh-place finish he earned in the previous superspeedway event -- the season-opening Daytona 500.

"Our Furniture Row Chevrolet had the power to win this deal," said Smith. "Right now it's hard to take, but in a few days I'll probably look back and say, 'It was a pretty good day overall.' "

With 25 laps remaining in the race Smith radioed his crew chief Pete Rondeau and said, "I am happy with the car."

At that time Smith was easily running in the top five and enjoying drafting success with either Paul Menard or Dave Blaney. But a few laps later on Lap 169, Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin got tangled in front of Smith, who did a brilliant driving job to avoid an accident. But the incident shuffled Smith back to 18th place and without his drafting partners that he teamed with for the majority of the race.

"It was nobody's fault, we got pushed back," explained Smith. "I hooked up with the 31 (Jeff Burton) and we just couldn't get a head of steam when we needed to. Again, it's nobody's fault, just a quirk of superspeedway racing."

The race winner was Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick.

The Sprint Cup Series will have the coming Easter weekend off. The next Cup race is Saturday night (April 30) at Richmond International Raceway.

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Smith Qualifies 18th in Talladega

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 16, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 18th (outside Row 9) in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race here at Talladega Superspeedway.

In Saturday morning's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 2.66-mile oval in 54.083 seconds at 177.061 miles per hour.

"With the new restrictor plate size the lap felt really slow -- it seemed like it would never end," said Smith. "Our focus in yesterday's one practice session was running in race trim, we didn't even do a mock-up qualifying run. We are happy with the Furniture Row Chevrolet and feel we can be as good or better than we were at the last superspeedway race, which was the Daytona 500 opener."

Smith finished seventh in the Daytona 500 and was contending for the win until he was involved in an accident with fewer than five laps remaining.

The Talladega pole winner was Jeff Gordon (178.248 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Paul Menard.

Sunday's Aaron's 499 will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Hard Luck Smith Calm Before Talladega Showdown

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Hard Luck Smith Calm Before Talladega Showdown

DENVER, Colo. (April 13, 2011) -- Deep down Regan Smith knows that he has the car and the team to win Sunday's Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. But the Furniture Row Racing driver is taking the low key approach after suffering one bad break after another in the first seven races of the season.

"I am not in any mood to predict, guess or whatever we do before a race," said Smith. "Since Daytona, it's been a rough time. I think our Furniture Row Chevrolet has been collected in accidents four times, had a blown engine plus a mechanical failure (brake rotor). We really haven't shown to anyone, including ourselves, what kind of potential we have because we haven't been able to run many incident-free races."

While Smith might be a little hard on himself, he and the Denver-based Furniture Row team have showcased new potential, including an outstanding performance in the previous superspeedway race -- the season opening Daytona 500.

Smith was leading the sport's biggest race with five laps remaining. But with three laps to go and running in third place, he got pushed into the wall. Despite the hit, he still managed to finish seventh.

Another indicator about how the team has improved is that Smith's qualifying average of 6.3 ranks No. 1 in the Sprint Cup Series.

"We just need to get a couple of good results and we'll be back in the groove," stated Smith. "But we have to stay away from trouble. A lot easier said than done, especially at Talladega."

Though Smith has had his share of ups and downs at the 2.66-mile Alabama track, his last visit there produced a 12th-place finish in November. And then there was that apparent victory in 2008 until NASCAR ruled that Smith passed Tony Stewart below the out-of-bounds yellow line as both drivers were heading to the checkered flag.

"We understand that so many things can happen at Talladega, but we're going into the race knowing that we can contend for the win, just as we did in the Daytona 500," explained Smith. "I am really proud of our superspeedway program and the power we get from our ECR (Earnhardt-Childress Racing) engines."

Smith, who seemed to be every racer's best friend at Daytona for his drafting success, says that finding the right partner will be key in Talladega.

"Kurt (Busch) and I clicked very well together in Daytona," noted Smith. "If we can do it again that would be great."

In the 150-mile qualifying race at Daytona, Smith finished second to Busch. Both drivers also partnered with success in the Daytona 500.

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Smith Can't Shake Bad Breaks; Collected in Accident at Texas Race

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Can't Shake Bad Breaks; Collected in Accident at Texas Race

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 9, 2011) -- The bad luck is not stopping for Regan Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team.

What occurred Saturday night in the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway has been happening with too much regularity this season for Smith, who was forced to retire from the race early after being collected in a multicar accident on lap 212 of 334. He was credited with a 37th-place finish.

"It's the same old story," said a disappointed Smith as he watched his teammates work on his damaged Chevrolet in the garage. "I have never been through a streak of bad luck like this before. Never. It's been every race this year, even the Daytona 500 when we got shoved into the wall as we were contending for the win with a few laps to go. I just don't know what to say except, we'll just keep on fighting through this. That's all you can do."

Smith who qualified fifth in his Farm American Chevrolet, presented by Furniture Row Companies and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, was running in the low 20s at the time of the accident. The incident also took out Mark Martin and Martin Truex Jr.

"Cars were crashing in front of me and I had no place to go," explained Smith. "I am not sure how it all started and it doesn't make much difference right now. We really wanted to put on a good show for the Farm American program and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers."

The race winner was Matt Kenseth. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Paul Menard.

The Sprint Cup Series heads to Alabama next Sunday (April 17) for the restrictor plate race at Talladega Superspeedway.

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Smith Qualifies 5th in Texas

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Qualifies Farm American Chevrolet 5th for Saturday Night's Texas Cup Race

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 8, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 5th in Saturday night's Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race here at Texas Motor Speedway.

Driving the Farm American Chevrolet, presented by Furniture Row Companies and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, Smith covered the ultra fast 1.5-mile oval in 28.731 seconds at 187.950 miles per hour during Friday's time trials.

The result was Smith's sixth top-10 starting position of the season. His only non-top 10 was 12th at the third race of the year in Las Vegas. His season qualifying average of 6.28 leads the Sprint Cup Series.

"The Furniture Row guys working on this Farm American Chevrolet did an awesome job," said Smith. "Weâ€™re excited about the Farm American program and having our new partner Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers on our No. 78 car."

Smith added, "This is a brand new car so Iâ€™ve got to thank the guys at the shop for an awesome job in building it. I also want to say thanks to the Earnhardt Childress Racing (ECR) engines. They've been great all year.â€

The pole winner was David Ragan (28.448 at 189.820). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth and Regan Smith.

Saturday night's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT (6 p.m. local time).
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Smith's Car to Showcase Farm American Paint Scheme at Texas Race

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Furniture Row Racing's Farm American Program Gaining Speed;
No. 78 Car to Showcase Farm American Paint Scheme at Texas Race

DENVER, Colo. (April 5, 2011) -- Furniture Row Racing, which is spearheading the Farm American program, announced that the team's No. 78 NASCAR Chevrolet will showcase the Farm American colors for the first time this season at this weekend's Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup race (April 7-9) at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Regan Smith's car at the 1.5-mile Texas oval will be known as the No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet, presented by Furniture Row Companies and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.

"The Farm American program continues to gain momentum which gives farmers and ranchers a national stage to share their story and bridge the dialogue gap between the consumer and members of the agriculture industry," said Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing. "We are excited about Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers joining Furniture Row Companies as a partner and becoming our first agribusiness financial partner to join the Farm American program. We continue to seek additional partners and are encouraged by the interest we have received from the agriculture community and also from a wide range of non-agriculture businesses."

Garone added, "We have also been overwhelmed with the support of nearly three dozen groups, representing more than 1.1 million agriculturalists, who have endorsed this program to date by joining as communication partners. What is truly special about the communication partners is the group represents a cross section of American agriculture from maple sugar growers to egg producers to family owned equipment dealerships."

What members of the agriculture community are saying about the Farm American Program:

"We are proud to be a part of Farm American, and share its vision of building a relationship between America's farm families and her consumers. For generations, Americaâ€™s Egg Farmers have been committed to delivering high-quality eggs, as well as caring for their animals and the land they farm. To learn more about where eggs come from and to join the fight against hunger, visit GoodEggProject.org and take the pledge to 'Eat Good. Do Good Every Day.' For every pledge taken, Americaâ€™s egg farmers will donate one egg to Feeding America, the nationâ€™s largest hunger relief charity, up to one million eggs.â€

Chad Gregory, Senior Vice President, United Egg Producers Association

"I don't think consumers understand 98 percent of our farms and ranches are still owned and operated by families that take deep pride in their stewardship, conservation and productivity. As a fifth generation American Rancher, my family provides the healthy, affordable food and fiber your family enjoys every day. We also provide renewable resources that reduce and eliminate our dependency on other countries. Consumers deserve to hear the real story of the work my family does, directly from us. That's what Farm American allows us to do. Share our story with you."

Troy & Stacy Hadrick, founders of Advocates For Agriculture

Brake Issue Stops Smith From Posting Strong Finish in Martinsville

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Brake Issue Stops Smith From Posting Strong Finish in Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (April 3, 2011) -- It appeared that Regan Smith was heading to a top-10 or better finish with 35 laps remaining in Sunday's 500-lap Sprint Cup race at the historic Martinsville Speedway short track.

But the bad luck that has plagued Smith this season struck again when the right-front brake rotor broke on his No. 78 Chevrolet. The incident at the .526-mile oval sent Smith's Furniture Row Chevrolet into the Turn 2 concrete wall. Though the car suffered major damage, Smith was able to drive the injured Chevrolet to the finish with a frustrating 31st-place result.

At the time of the incident, Smith was running in 14th place and did not need to pit for the remainder of the race, which meant he would have jumped a number of spots in track position once cars ahead of him came down pit road for the final stop of the race.

"Unfortunately that scenario didn't play out for us," said Smith, who qualified 10th. "This one hurt, because we had a strong finish in sight. We've had more than our share of bad luck and we've only run six of 36 point races."

Smith continued, "Our Furniture Row Chevrolet was getting better as the race went on and it sure felt good. We deserve a good result, but can't seem to finish a race unscathed so far this season. All we can do is continue to be mentally tough and come back next week with an even better performance."

The Goody's Fast Relief 500 race winner was Kevin Harvick, his second straight win. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon.

The next Cup race is Saturday night (April 9) at Texas Motor Speedway.

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With No. 1 Qualifying Average, Smith Looking to Extend Weekend Success

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

With No. 1 Qualifying Average,
Smith Looking to Extend Weekend Success

DENVER, Colo. (March 30, 2011) -- Happy Fridays, but can't trust those Sundays.

That would be the short answer about how Regan Smith's season has been going since the Daytona 500 opener.

Now the long answer.

Since his impressive seventh-place performance in the Daytona 500, the past four races have unfortunately played out basically the same for Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

Great qualifying on Friday. Bad luck and disappointing race results on Sunday.

Smith has the best qualifying average (5.8) among all Sprint Cup drivers after the first five races of the season. Second is Kyle Busch with a 7.80 average and Carl Edwards is third best with a 9.0 average. Only Smith and Busch have four top-10 starting positions.

Smith's qualifying efforts in the five races have been: 5th (Daytona), 5th (Phoenix), 12th (Las Vegas), 3rd (Bristol) and 4th (Fontana). And going back to last season, he had top-10 qualifying performances in the final three races.

It's those gloomy days of Sunday that are getting Smith down. His race finishes have been 7th (Daytona), 34th (Phoenix), 39th (Las Vegas), 22nd (Bristol) and 27th (Fontana).

An accident in Phoenix, engine failure in Las Vegas and a brush with the wall in Fontana have tested the character of Smith and the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team.

"The spirit and confidence levels have not changed, we know what we're capable of achieving and it's a lot better than what our race results have been to date," said Smith. "Yes, we've been happy on Fridays, but not on Sundays lately. I'd rather be happy both days, but if I had to choose one of the days, it definitely would be Sunday. We have some work ahead of us."

Smith's goal heading into this weekend's Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Cup event at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway is to have to have a strong race performance from start to finish at the historic .526-mile short track.

"Finding rhythm on race day in Martinsville is our first priority," stated Smith. "We need to be as strong in race trim as we've been in qualifying trim. There was a time last year when our biggest problem was qualifying and starting in the rear of the field. Considering how we qualified in the last three races of 2010 and the first five of 2011, the problem appears to be fixed. Now we need to take care of business on Sunday."

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Encounter Problems in California

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Encounter Problems in California

FONTANA, Calif. (March 27, 2011) -- It was a not-so-kind Murphy's Law day for Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team.

It did seem as if everything went wrong for Smith, who brought home a crippled race car to a 27th-place finish in Sunday's Auto Club 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Heading into Sunday's 400-mile event, Smith was riding a qualifying high of fourth. But when the green flag dropped to start the race at Auto Club Speedway, he immediately encountered handling issues.

Then there was an early pit-road miscue that added to the team's frustration. And to make matters worse, just when the handling issues appeared to be improving, Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet made contact with the wall, causing major front-end suspension problems.

"I want to forget this day as quickly as I can," said Smith. "Absolutely nothing went right for us. As it turned out, we had a damaged race car and did the best we could to finish the race. We're close in what we're hoping to achieve, but we need to be as strong in the race as we are in qualifying."

Qualifying indeed has been a bright spot for the Colorado-based team. Smith has a 5.8 starting average after the first five races of the season. He has started in the top-five four times. His worst qualifying effort was a very respectable 12th in Las Vegas.

"We've made some big gains in qualifying trim, but we need to make the same kind of gains in race trim," stated Smith. "We'll do it and we'll get it figured out sooner rather than later."

The race winner was Kevin Harvick. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.

The next Cup race is Sunday (April 3) at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

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Smith Continues Qualifying Prowess; 4th Fastest in California

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Continues Qualifying Prowess; 4th Fastest in California

FONTANA, Calif. (March 25, 2011) -- Regan Smith posted another strong qualifying effort in his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

By posting the fourth fastest speed in Friday's time trials at Auto Club Speedway, it marks the fourth time in the first five races of the 2011 season that Smith will have a top-five starting position. He started fifth in the Daytona 500 opener, fifth in Phoenix and third last week in Bristol. The only race he didn't qualify in the top-five was at Las Vegas where he was 12th fastest. His five-race average starting position is 5.8.

Smith will start Sunday's Auto Club 400 from the outside of Row 2, thanks to a fast qualifying lap at the two-mile oval -- 39.124 seconds at 184.030 miles per hour.

"Kudos to our crew chief Pete Rondeau and the entire team -- we made a huge recovery from practice," said Smith, who was 25th fastest in the earlier practice session. "We like this track and it's time to capitalize on our strong qualifying efforts. Our next step is to work on the car during Saturday's race-trim practices and get our Furniture Row Chevrolet dialed in for Sunday."

The pole winner was Juan Pablo Montoya (184.653 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Smith and Tony Stewart.

Sunday's Auto Club 400 will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at noon MT.

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It's California Liking for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

It's California Liking for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

DENVER, Colo. (March 23, 2011) -- Auto Club Speedway, site of Sunday's Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup race, has been a good fit for Regan Smith, which was evident by his two solid performances last season at the two-mile oval.

During the 2010 February race at the Fontana, Calif. facility, Smith's was running solidly in the top 10 late in the event until a pit-road miscue knocked him back to a 19th-place finish. At the October race, Smith again found himself in the top 10 late in the event, but slipped to 12th for his best result of the season.

"I like the California track, we had two strong races there in 2010," said Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. "Our 12th-place finish in the fall was the catalyst in getting us to a new level of competition."

Following the October race in California, Smith notched a 13th place result in Charlotte and came back a couple of weeks later with a 13th-place finish in Talladega. That made it three top-13s in the final seven races of 2010 for the Furniture Row Racing team.

That momentum carried into this year's season opener at Daytona International Speedway where Smith was contending for the Daytona 500 victory until a multicar accident with a few laps remaining relegated him to a seventh-place finish.

"Right now we could use another boost and I can't think of a better place than Auto Club Speedway to get us back to where we should be," noted Smith.

While Daytona Speedweeks has been Smith's highlight of the young season, he has continued with strong performances, especially in qualifying.

Smith posted top-five qualifying efforts in two of the last three races and each time he was the fastest Chevrolet driver. He qualified fifth in Phoenix and was third last week in Bristol.

"The Furniture Row Chevrolet has been fast almost every place we've been this year," explained Smith, "But we haven't had the finishes due to bad racing luck. We did OK in Bristol (22nd), but we're still in the rebound mode after taking a major hit in Phoenix (accident) and Las Vegas (engine). We need to put a nice streak together, which we are more than capable of doing."

Smith added, "We've done well on the 1.5 and 2-mile tracks in the past so that is encouraging for our Furniture Row Racing team."

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Smith Battles Handling Problems; Finishes 22nd in Bristol

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Battles Handling Problems; Finishes 22nd in Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 20, 2011) -- Regan Smith fought handling issues as the Furniture Row Racing driver posted a 22nd-place finish in Sunday's Jeff Byrd 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Smith, who started the 500-lap race from the third position, struggled with maneuverability through the high-banked corners at the half-mile oval. But as he has done so many times, the 27-year-old driver managed to get the most out of his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

"We just never seemed to find the right balance, which is critical at Bristol," said Smith. "At times we were good, but the car was a handful for the majority of the race. Considering what we went through the last two races with an accident and engine failure, finishing the race was something we really needed to accomplish."

Smith and the Denver, Colo-based team were hoping to finish off the Bristol weekend with the same success they had in Friday's practice and time trials when Smith was one of the leading drivers by posting a career-best qualifying effort of third.

"We had some positives this weekend which we want to build on," noted Smith. "The short track program (less than a mile in length) has not been the best for us, but we are getting better. Next week in Southern California is a two-mile track and we sure like that type of venue."

Smith picked up one spot in the driver point standings and is 27th after four of 36 races.

The Bristol race winner was Kyle Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Paul Menard.

The next Cup race is Sunday (March 27) -- Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

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Smith Sets Career Mark; 3rd Fastest Qualifier in Bristol

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Sets Career Mark; 3rd Fastest Qualifier in Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 18, 2011) -- For the second time this season Regan Smith set a career Sprint Cup mark. The latest was an all-time best qualifying performance of third, which he achieved Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway during time trials for Sunday's Jeff Byrd 500.

His other career performance came last month in the Daytona 500 when he posted an all-time best finish of seventh. And for the second time in the first four races of 2011, Smith recorded the fastest qualified speed for a Chevrolet driver.

"We've been quick everywhere we've gone this year, we just haven't had very good luck," stated Smith in a post-event news conference. "We had a motor issue last week (in Las Vegas) and then the Phoenix wreck with all the cars on the back straightaway. Obviously we want to have a good finish -- that is definitely the first priority."

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered Bristol's .533-mile oval in 15.040 seconds at 127.580 miles per hour. He was a few ticks shy of Carl Edwards' pole-winning numbers of 14.989 at 128.014.

"It was a good lap," said the 27-year-old Smith. "We weren't quite that good in practice -- the guys made some good adjustments. We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted to do - just a little tight out there. I figured with Carl (Edwards) and Greg (Biffle) going out at the end, we were probably in trouble (for the pole), but it was still a good lap and we will definitely take it for the Furniture Row Chevy."

The top-five qualifiers in order were: Edwards, Greg Biffle, Smith, Paul Menard and David Ragan.

Sunday's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a one-hour prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Rebounding is Top of Mind for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Rebounding is Top of Mind for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

DENVER, Colo. (March 16, 2011) -- In a recent interview Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith kept on repeating the word "rebound". As a huge Syracuse Orange fan, one would assume that Smith was talking college basketball and the opening-round games of the NCAA tournament.

But for how much Smith would love to see his Orange advance in the tournament, his full focus is on Sunday's Jeff Byrd 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. And his multi mentions of "rebound" were a reference to what his Furniture Row team needs to do after suffering unforced problems in the previous two Cup races at Phoenix (collected in an accident) and Las Vegas (engine failure).

"I keep telling myself that things can turn just as quickly for the good as they can for the bad," said Smith. "We were on a high after finishing seventh at Daytona and felt that what we've worked so hard for was paying dividends. But an accident and engine malfunction in Phoenix and Las Vegas kicked us to the curb. Yes, we need to rebound sooner rather than later. And a good result in our Chevrolet at Bristol will quickly get us back to where we want to be."

Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team know that tackling the world's fastest and toughest half-mile track will not be an easy task.

"We've been working hard to improve our short track program and there's no better place to put our efforts to a test than Bristol Motor Speedway," explained Smith. "It's a great, but challenging facility -- a venue that I will always have fond memories for since Bristol is the place where I made my first career Sprint Cup start (March 2007)."

Smith added, "The Jeff Byrd 500 is a classic race named after a classy person. Mr. Byrd was the key force in making the Bristol race one of the best on the circuit."

The 27-year-old Smith, who grew up in central New York (near Syracuse), is also fully aware of the pitfalls of a Bristol race.

"You need to respect Bristol," noted Smith, whose best finish at short track was 14th in August 2008. "If you step out of line, this track will step up and put you out of the race in an instant. We can't afford any more of those problems. We would like to have our finish be comparable to our performance, which wasn't the case in either Phoenix or Las Vegas. Our Furniture Row Chevrolets were really good at those two races, but we didn't have much to show in terms of final results."

And regarding the NCAA basketball tourney, Smith will be glued to his television Friday night cheering on Syracuse against Indiana State.

"Obviously I like Syracuse in this game, but the early rounds are not much different than racing at Bristol -- you just never know how it will all shake out," stated Smith.

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Engine Malfunction Stalls Smith's Performance in Las Vegas

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Engine Malfunction Stalls Smith's Performance in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (March 6, 2011) -- For the second week in a row Regan Smith experienced the ugly side of auto racing.

Last week in Phoenix Smith got collected in an early multicar accident. And in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway it only got worse for the Furniture Row Racing driver, who was forced to retire from the Kobalt Tools 400 due to an engine issue in his No. 78 Chevrolet. He was credited with a 39th-place finish.

"No doubt it's been a disappointing two weeks after a great start in the Daytona 500," said Smith. "We're taking some licks right now, but this team knows that we're not having a performance problem. As we did in Phoenix last week we were once again strong in our practices and in our qualifying effort. But as was the case in Phoenix, we were not able to show what we had in the race due to issues out of our control."

Smith, who qualified 12th, reported that his car was losing power on Lap 71 of 267. He was instructed to bring the car to the garage where it was determined that whatever malfunctioned in the engine could not be immediately fixed.

"This is the part of racing we all hate," stated Smith. "Our guys on the road and at our Denver shop have worked so hard to get us to a new level of competition and I feel awful that we haven't had the opportunity to capitalize on our potential. Our luck cycle will change and when it does, it's going to be good. We'll keep our heads up and bounce back."

The Las Vegas race winner was Carl Edwards. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Ryan Newman.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has the coming weekend off and will resume competition March 18-20 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 12th in Las Vegas

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

LAS VEGAS (March 4, 2011) -- Regan Smith will start 12th in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.5-mile oval in 28.864 seconds at 187.084 miles per hour.

The 12th-place posting snapped Smith's five-race streak of qualifying in the top 10.

"We wanted to be better in qualifying, but overall we had another solid day with our Furniture Row Chevrolet," said Smith, who was eighth fastest in practice. "We're doing a lot of things right and it sure feels good. What I am most happy about is how good our car was in race trim. We'll tweak the car tomorrow in practice and be ready to roll on Sunday."

The pole winner was Matt Kenseth (Ford - 188.884 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Marcos Ambrose (Ford), Carl Edwards (Ford), Greg Biffle (Ford) and Kyle Busch (Toyota).

Sunday's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 11 a.m. local time (noon MT).

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New Partner for Furniture Row's Farm American Program

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers Partners With Furniture Row Racing's Farm American Program

TAMPA, Fla. (March 4, 2011) -- Furniture Row Racing, which competes on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, announced today that Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers has joined the team as a financial partner for its Farm American program. The announcement was made during the Commodity Classic trade show at the Tampa Convention Center.

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers manufactures and markets in-house formulated and branded liquid fertilizer products. Incorporated in 1983, the well-known St. Johns, Mich.-based agricultural company has worked years ahead of the industry response to the demand for environmentally friendly products. The company owns the largest fertilizer research farm in the United States dedicated to plant nutrition.

The Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team spearheaded the Farm American program in 2010 with a special paint scheme at selected races on its No. 78 Chevrolet, driven by Regan Smith.

The Farm American program promotes the importance of U.S. agriculture, which employs directly and indirectly more than 22 million people in the American workforce. The details and schedule of the 2011 Farm-American program are still being worked out and will be announced at a later date.

"Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved with Furniture Row Racing's Farm American program," said Albert Bancroft, marketing communications manager at Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. "The NASCAR-related program allows farmers and ranchers to tell their story. As a third generation family-owned company, we feel it is important that the story of U.S. agriculture is brought to the dinner table of the consumer.â€

Bancroft added, â€œBeing involved with Farm American we see the ability to aid producers in overcoming objections of those who do not understand. And we're also thrilled to be part of an exciting race team. It's a talented team which was evident in its seventh-place finish in the recent Daytona 500."

Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing, was equally excited about the new partnership.

"We are proud to partner with Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, a multi-generation, family-owned agribusiness whose highest priority is honoring the traditions of America's farm and ranch families," said Garone. "While we seek additional financial partners for the Farm American program, this partnership with Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers will always remain special since itâ€™s the first agriculture business to join our team."

The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team will be competing this weekend in the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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Smith Not Banking on Outside Help for Las Vegas Cup Race

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Smith Not Banking on Outside Help for Las Vegas Cup Race

DENVER, Colo. (March 2, 2011) -- Unlike millions of visitors to the world's gambling mecca, Regan Smith is not looking for any luck in Las Vegas.

"We just don't want any bad luck," said Smith, the Furniture Row Racing Sprint Cup driver. "Keep away the bad luck, then I am pretty confident our No. 78 Chevrolet will be in good shape when it's all said and done on Sunday."

Smith of course is referring to Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the third of the 36-race, 10-month NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.

Smith and the Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing team were riding an early season high after an impressive Daytona Speedweeks, which culminated with a seventh-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500.

The team's success was continuing the following week at Phoenix International Raceway, where Smith qualified fifth as the fastest Chevrolet driver in the time trials. He kept the pace on race day as he was cruising in the top 10 and top 15 in the early stages of the 312-lap event.

But on Lap 67 his car got collected with major damage in a multicar wreckfest. The incident shoved Smith to a frustrating 34th-place finish.

"We had a solid showing for a while in Phoenix," noted Smith. "But we got caught up in that early 14-car accident. We're only looking at what happened there as a hiccup or a detour."

The good news for Smith is that the mile-and-a-half tracks such as Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been successful for the Furniture Row Racing team.

"The mile-and-a-half tracks have been our strong suit in the past and I don't see any reason for it not to continue in Vegas," stated Smith. "We're going there with the same focus and confidence we had after our strong showing in Daytona. The positive energy on this team has made the offseason and the beginning of the new season so much fun."

In his last two outings at the Las Vegas oval, Smith posted 19th and 21st-place finishes.

"Those weren't bad results considering we were at a different level of our program," explained Smith. "We have progressed since then and expect better. I feel much more confident and much more relaxed."

Two of Smith's top finishes in the second half of 2010 came at mid-size tracks. He was 12th at the two-mile Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. and 13th at the 1.5-mile Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

###

Smith to Conduct Autograph Session

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Regan Smith to Conduct Autograph Session at
Charlotte's New Furniture Row Shopping Center

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2011) -- As a continuation of its grand-opening celebration, the new Furniture Row Shopping Center in Charlotte announced that Regan Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will conduct a public autograph signing Wednesday, March 2 from 6-7:30 p.m. ET.

The autograph session will take place in Oak Express at the four-store Furniture Row Shopping Center, located at 8215 Ikea Blvd (exit 43, City Blvd. off of I-85). Along with Oak Express the shopping center stores include Sofa Mart, Bedroom Expressions and Denver Mattress.

Smith, who was a contender in the recent Daytona 500 before a late-race accident pushed him back to a seventh-place finish, will sign Furniture Row Racing autograph cards during the 90-minute session.

Furniture Row Racing apparel and die-cast cars will be available for sale at the signing.

The Charlotte Furniture Row Shopping Center received rave reviews following a breakfast for national motorsports media in January during Charlotte Motor Speedway's Media Tour.

Operating more than 330 stores in 31 states, the Furniture Row Companies make up one of the largest family owned specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers. Furniture Row is dedicated to donating to charitable organizations such as World Vision, The Salvation Army and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. For more information, please visit http://www.FurnitureRow.com.

For information about Regan Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team visit: http://www.FurnitureRowRacing.com.

###

14-Car Wreck Ruins Smith's Day in Phoenix

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

14-Car Wreck Ruins Smith's Day in Phoenix

Furniture Row Driver Finishes 34th

PHOENIX (Feb. 27, 2011) -- Regan Smith's strong performance of 2011 was continuing in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. But on Lap 67 of 312, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet was in the wrong place at the wrong time as it suffered major damage after being involved in a 14-car wreck on the backstretch of the one-mile oval.

The pileup resulted in NASCAR red flagging the race for nearly 15 minutes.

Smith, who qualified fifth as the fastest Chevrolet driver in Saturday's time trials, was easily running in the top 10 and top 15 prior to the accident.

"There's no reason to see these kinds of wrecks that early in a race," said Smith, who was credited with a 34th-place finish. "It's so disappointing because we had a car capable of finishing in the top 10. We were patient and feeling really good about our Furniture Row Chevrolet before the accident happened."

Smith was forced to drive his crippled Chevrolet to the garage where the No. 78 crew worked for approximately 50 minutes to make the necessary repairs to the radiator and front-end of the car.

When Smith returned to action he was actually posting fast lap times even though he was driving a damaged car.

"That only says what a strong Furniture Row Chevrolet we had in the beginning," noted Smith. "We were on a roll after Daytona Speedweeks, but we'll just look at today as a hiccup or detour. We'll go to Las Vegas with the same kind of focus and confidence that we had coming into Phoenix."

The 34th-place finish dropped Smith to 19th in the driver point standings.

The Phoenix race winner was Jeff Gordon. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman.

The next Cup race is Sunday (March 6) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

###

Smith Qualifies 5th for Phoenix Cup Race

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

PHOENIX (Feb. 26, 2011) -- Regan Smith's qualifying lap Saturday resulted in the fifth-starting position for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

It was the second-straight race of posting a fifth-place starting spot for Smith, who started last week's Daytona 500 from the same position. And going back to last season, the Furniture Row Racing driver is now at five consecutive races of qualifying in the top 10.

Smith's No. 78 machine was the fastest Chevrolet in qualifying with a lap time and speed of 26.283 seconds at 136.971 miles per hour.

â€œI was surprised - I thought it was a slow lap, to be honest," said Smith. "So, Iâ€™m really pleased with that time. Sometimes when youâ€™re fast it feels slow. We were a little off in qualifying trim yesterday so we made some adjustments today and everybody on this Furniture Row Chevy did an awesome job. Weâ€™ve been really working hard with our program to get it to this level.â€

The pole winner was Carl Edwards (26.224 at 137.279 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch and Smith.

Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 12:30 p.m. MT.

###

Regan Smith Listed #1 in NASCAR SPRINT CUP Driver Ratings

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Furniture Row Racing
â€ŽRegan Smith Listed #1 in NASCAR SPRINT CUP Driver Ratings

Season Leaders: Driver Rating

NASCAR SPRINT CUP Driver Ratings

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Taking Daytona Momentum to Phoenix

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Taking Daytona Momentum to Phoenix

DENVER, Colo. (Feb. 23, 2011) -- Coming off a successful Daytona 500, including a career-best finish, Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team have quickly flip-fopped their focus.

"After Daytona I found time to take a few deep breaths, and for a short period only, rehashed what could have been," said Smith, who finished seventh in the Daytona 500. "But then it was all about Phoenix and thinking how important it is to maintain the momentum we gained during Speedweeks."

Along with contending for the Daytona 500 win before a late-race wreck spoiled his chance of victory, the 27-year-old Smith also posted an impressive second-place result in the 150-mile qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway. He left Daytona sixth in Sprint Cup driver points.

To prepare for Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup race at the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway oval, the Furniture Row team conducted a test session while in Florida with a visit to Disney World Speedway in Orlando.

"We definitely made some gains at Disney World Speedway," noted Smith. "And that's one of the reasons I feel good about this weekend in Phoenix. We're looking for big things, and know that we have the potential to have a good season."

Smith added, "We need consistent results, and that's why I am happy that we came out of Daytona with a continuation of our success from the late stages of last season. I applaud every one of our guys at the shop for their incredible work ethic and dedication. It's a credit to Pete Rondeau (crew chief) and Mark McArdle (competition director)."

For the record, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet posted three top-13 finishes in the final seven races of 2010.

During the offseason Smith kept telling himself about the importance of getting off to a strong start.

"We were upbeat during the offseason and didn't want to lose that feeling," explained Smith. "That's why it was important for us to do well in Daytona and have something to show for it.

"Yeah, I was bummed after Daytona that we didn't have the opportunity to fight for the win at the end. When you're leading the race with four laps to go, it gets pretty exciting. But on the other end of the spectrum, it's pretty demoralizing to get wrecked when you're contending and the white flag is soon to wave."

Sunday's race will be Smith's seventh Cup appearance at the Arizona track. He posted results of 26th and 23rd in last year's two races at Phoenix. He also notched a top-10 starting spot of eighth in the fall race.

###

Late Accident Spoils Smith's Chance of Victory in Daytona 500

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Late Accident Spoils Smith's Chance of Victory in Daytona 500

Furniture Row Driver Fights Back to Finish 7th - First Career Top-10

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2011) â€“ Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team went into Sundayâ€™s Daytona 500 with a legitimate chance to win, and nearly pulled it off.

Running in the top three with fewer than three laps remaining in Sundayâ€™s race, Smith found himself sideways with a snarling pack of cars bearing down on him. If that wasnâ€™t bad enough, his chance to win sailed right on past as well.

Smith and constant companion Kurt Busch had drafted their way to the front and led lap 194. As the cars sorted themselves out at Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. got into the rear of Tony Stewart, who in turn tapped the rear of Buschâ€™s car.

The force was enough to turn Smith's Furniture Row Chevrolet sideways and into Ryan Newman, and the rest was a battle to get as many points as possible.

â€œIâ€™m not really sure what happened,â€ a disappointed Smith said upon climbing out of his battered Chevrolet. â€œI saw Kurt [Busch] get off me a little bit there and the product of what weâ€™re doing is, you have to check up to let your partner get back to you. I think he got pushed, too, and I just got hammered really hard there and turned sideways. I couldnâ€™t do anything about it.â€

When he got the car righted and back to pit road, the damage was behind the front wheels, so crew chief Pete Rondeau slapped four tires on it, cleared the worst of the sheet metal and sent Smith back out in 14th spot for the green-white-checkered finish.

By the time the cars got the green flag, he was 12th, and spotter Clayton Hughes told Smith, â€œLay the wood to it.â€ In racing terms, that means push for all your worth. Smith did, finally finishing seventh.

Despite earning his first top-10 finish and the first for Furniture Row Racing, it was still a come-down from leading the biggest race of the season within sight of the white flag.

â€œWhen you can see the lead with five to go and then youâ€™re in the lead and then in the wall, itâ€™s a disappointing day,â€ Smith said. â€œItâ€™s life and we go on to Phoenix and focus on the rest of the season. The Furniture Row Chevrolet was good, and it was frustrating, butâ€¦weâ€™ll go to Phoenix.â€

As for the late accident that wiped away his chance at victory, Smith shrugged.

â€œItâ€™s just gonna happen,â€ he said. â€œThat was nobodyâ€™s fault back there. I donâ€™t blame anybody. I was trying to get back to my partner, and it just didnâ€™t work out.â€

Smith added, "We had a great Speedweeks here at Daytona. Our guys at the Denver shop worked really hard during the offseason and I am happy that we have something to show for it. A solid start to what I feel is going to be a great season."

It was a good points day, looking at the big picture. His seventh-place finish netted 37 points, and he led seven laps, which adds another bonus point to his total. Smith was told by crew chief Rondeau not to use partial throttle the rest of the way. He didnâ€™t, and the car lived through all 208 laps.

The race winner was rookie Trevor Bayne. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, David Gilliland, Bobby Labonte and Kurt Busch.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Feb. 27) at Phoenix International Raceway.

###

Smith Impressive with Runner-up Finish in Daytona 500 Qualifying Race

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Smith Impressive with Runner-up Finish in Daytona 500 Qualifying Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (Feb. 17, 2011) â€“ Regan Smith knew when he saw Kurt Busch in his rear-view mirror that Thursday was going to be a good day at Daytona International Speedway.

It was, as he finished second behind the 2004 NASCAR champion in the first of two 150-mile Gatorade Duels that set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. Smith will start the Great American race fifth right behind Busch who will start third.

As a single-car team, finding a drafting partner in the high-stakes poker game that is restrictor plate racing is always a wild-card, but the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet found a kindred spirit in Busch, the only driver without a teammate in the first of two qualifying races.

â€œKurt didnâ€™t have anybody out there either,â€ Smith said after the first 60-lap shootout. â€œAs soon as I saw him, I thought, â€˜weâ€™re going to have a good day.â€™â€

Facing a green-white-checkered finish after Michael McDowellâ€™s engine expired with four laps remaining, Smith was sitting fourth in line, right next to Busch in third. The two drivers, through their spotters, hatched a plan to get to the front.

With Kasey Kahne and Juan Pablo Montoya ahead of them at the green, Busch climbed the banking in front of Smith and the two set sail for Turn 1. By the time the four cars exited Turn 2, Busch and Smith were first and second and set to battle for the victory.

â€œThe Furniture Row Chevy was really good today,â€ Smith said after accepting a heartfelt congratulations from Busch on his way to Victory Lane. â€œYou can have a good pushing car, but if you donâ€™t have anybody willing to work with you it doesnâ€™t mean anything. Kurt (Busch) and I worked well all day and we had good cars hooked up together. I hope we can find each other and do the same thing on Sunday.â€

Busch, Smith said, worked with him extensively the week before during practice for the Budweiser Shootout, and the definitely helped both drivers out on Thursday.

â€œHe worked with me down here last week and taught me the switch and everything like that,â€ Smith said. â€œWe work well together. We had two cars that hooked up, and we had two spotters working real hard together.

â€œI knew if I could push (on the restart) and we got away, Iâ€™d have a chance to make a move on him,â€ Smith said.

He did get the chance, but it was the wrong move. Smith faked low toward the double-yellow line and Busch blocked. Smith then eased high but fell short at the start-finish line.

â€œI didnâ€™t make the right move, so itâ€™s my fault,â€ Smith said matter-of-factly. â€œYou learn stuff for Sunday. Iâ€™m real excited for Sunday. Iâ€™ve got a real good pit selection now and weâ€™re starting toward the front. And, Iâ€™ve got that 22 car sitting right in front of me.â€

Smith led three laps in the 62-lap race, which had two laps added because of the extended cleanup for McDowellâ€™s engine problem.

So what did he learn about his Furniture Row Chevrolet during the race?

â€œI learned that Iâ€™ve got a good pushing race car, and a car that can be pushed really well,â€ Smith said. â€œWe worked hard on this thing. We werenâ€™t fast when we got here, but the guys on the Furniture Row Chevrolet kept digging and digging, and got it where it needed to be. We have a good starting spot for Sunday.â€

Sundayâ€™s Daytona 500 will televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show 10 a.m. MT

Smith Impressive with Runner-up Finish in Daytona 500 Qualifying Race

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (Feb. 17, 2011) â€“ Regan Smith knew when he saw Kurt Busch in his rear-view mirror that Thursday was going to be a good day at Daytona International Speedway.

It was, as he finished second behind the 2004 NASCAR champion in the first of two 150-mile Gatorade Duels that set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. Smith will start the Great American race fifth right behind Busch who will start third.

As a single-car team, finding a drafting partner in the high-stakes poker game that is restrictor plate racing is always a wild-card, but the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet found a kindred spirit in Busch, the only driver without a teammate in the first of two qualifying races.

â€œKurt didnâ€™t have anybody out there either,â€ Smith said after the first 60-lap shootout. â€œAs soon as I saw him, I thought, â€˜weâ€™re going to have a good day.â€™â€

Facing a green-white-checkered finish after Michael McDowellâ€™s engine expired with four laps remaining, Smith was sitting fourth in line, right next to Busch in third. The two drivers, through their spotters, hatched a plan to get to the front.

With Kasey Kahne and Juan Pablo Montoya ahead of them at the green, Busch climbed the banking in front of Smith and the two set sail for Turn 1. By the time the four cars exited Turn 2, Busch and Smith were first and second and set to battle for the victory.

â€œThe Furniture Row Chevy was really good today,â€ Smith said after accepting a heartfelt congratulations from Busch on his way to Victory Lane. â€œYou can have a good pushing car, but if you donâ€™t have anybody willing to work with you it doesnâ€™t mean anything. Kurt (Busch) and I worked well all day and we had good cars hooked up together. I hope we can find each other and do the same thing on Sunday.â€

Busch, Smith said, worked with him extensively the week before during practice for the Budweiser Shootout, and the definitely helped both drivers out on Thursday.

â€œHe worked with me down here last week and taught me the switch and everything like that,â€ Smith said. â€œWe work well together. We had two cars that hooked up, and we had two spotters working real hard together.

â€œI knew if I could push (on the restart) and we got away, Iâ€™d have a chance to make a move on him,â€ Smith said.

He did get the chance, but it was the wrong move. Smith faked low toward the double-yellow line and Busch blocked. Smith then eased high but fell short at the start-finish line.

â€œI didnâ€™t make the right move, so itâ€™s my fault,â€ Smith said matter-of-factly. â€œYou learn stuff for Sunday. Iâ€™m real excited for Sunday. Iâ€™ve got a real good pit selection now and weâ€™re starting toward the front. And, Iâ€™ve got that 22 car sitting right in front of me.â€

Smith led three laps in the 62-lap race, which had two laps added because of the extended cleanup for McDowellâ€™s engine problem.

So what did he learn about his Furniture Row Chevrolet during the race?

â€œI learned that Iâ€™ve got a good pushing race car, and a car that can be pushed really well,â€ Smith said. â€œWe worked hard on this thing. We werenâ€™t fast when we got here, but the guys on the Furniture Row Chevrolet kept digging and digging, and got it where it needed to be. We have a good starting spot for Sunday.â€

Sundayâ€™s Daytona 500 will televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

###

Smith Set For Daytona 500 Qualifying Race

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2011) -- Regan Smith's Pole Day qualifying effort Sunday landed him the 16th starting position in Thursday's first Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway.

Sunday's Pole Day at the World Center of Racing locked in the front row for next Sunday's (Feb. 20) Daytona 500 and determined the starting positions for the 150-mile Duel races.

The results from the Duel races will determine the 43-car lineup for the Daytona 500. Thursday's first qualifying race is scheduled for noon MT and will be televised on SPEED.

Smith's 28th fastest time Sunday out of 48 drivers was a result of his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet posting a time and speed of 48.998 seconds at 183.681 miles per hour on the 2.5-mile oval.

"We're working hard and we are improving," said Smith. "We have three more days of practice plus the qualifying race to get us dialed in for the 500. We'll not only be looking for more speed in our Furniture Row Chevrolet, but also for a Daytona 500 drafting partner. It's like musical chairs -- you don't want to be the last guy without a chair, and you sure don't want to be the last driver without a dancing partner in the big race."

The front row for the 500 was captured by the Hendrick Motorsports team with the pole going to Dale Earnhardt Jr. (186.089 mph) and the outside pole to Jeff Gordon (185.966 mph).

The third through fifth fastest Pole Day drivers were: Trevor Bayne, Paul Menard and Clint Bowyer.

###

Smith Gets Wrecked in Budweiser Shootout

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2011) -- Regan Smith's first Budweiser Shootout ended early as the Furniture Row Racing driver got collected in a multicar accident on Lap 29 of 75 at Daytona International Speedway.

The backstretch melee in Saturday night's non-points race sent six cars to the garage, including Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet plus the cars of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya, Joey Logano and Kevin Conway. .

"It was getting feisty out there and I am not exactly sure what happened," said Smith, who was credited with a 22nd-place finish. "Our crew chief (Pete Rondeau) said that the No. 88 (Earnhardt Jr.) got into me. But I have a feeling somebody tagged him first. As I said, I am not really sure what happened.

"The one thing I do know is that I was having fun and felt we were getting a better hang of the situation before we got wrecked. The first segment (25 laps) I was not able to hook up with someone in the draft and make it work. I hate crashing a car, but it was still good experience as we continue to work on our strategy for next week's Daytona 500 (Feb. 20)."

The next go for Smith at Daytona Speedweeks is tomorrow's (Sunday) Pole Day qualifying, which locks in the front row for the 500 and also determines the starting field for Thursday's (Feb. 17) qualifying races.
The Budweiser Shootout winner was Kurt Busch. Rounding out the top five were: Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle.

###

Smith Not So Lucky in Random Draw for Bud Shootout Starting Position

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Smith Not So Lucky in Random Draw for Bud Shootout Starting Position

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2011) -- Luck wasn't on Regan Smith's side Friday during the random starting position draw for Saturday night's non-points Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.

The Furniture Row Racing driver, who will be competing in his first Budweiser Shootout, drew the 24th and last starting position for the 75-lap, 187.5-mile race at the famed superspeedway. He qualified for the invitational race based on his status as a former Sprint Cup rookie of the year.

"Hopefully this means we got our bad luck out of the way before the race even starts," said Smith during the one-hour special on SPEED. "As Jeff Gordon said earlier it really doesn't matter where you start in this race. We just have to stay in the lead draft and move to the front in our Furniture Row Chevrolet."

The Budweiser Shootout will be conducted in two segments of 25 and 50 laps with a 10-minute break between segments. The event is a precursor to the Daytona 500 (Feb. 20).

Speaking of the Daytona 500, Saturday will also mark the first practice day for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup cars. And on Sunday, the Cup cars will take part in Pole Day, which locks in the front row for the Daytona 500 and determines the starting positions for Thursday's (Feb. 17) qualifying races.

Weekend Television Schedule From Daytona

Saturday, Feb. 12
SPEED
Cup Practices
9 - 11 a.m. MT
Noon - 1:45 p.m. MT

FOX
Budweiser Shootout
6 p.m. MT

Sunday, Feb. 13
FOX
Pole Day
11 a.m. MT

Offseason Surprise Leads to Entry in Budweiser Shootout for Regan Smith

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2011) -- The best piece of news that Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith received during the offseason was that he qualified to participate in NASCAR's traditional opener - the Budweiser Shootout, scheduled for Saturday night (FOX), 8 p.m. ET.

When NASCAR released the new qualification criteria in mid January for the non-points, 75-lap, 187.5-mile race at Daytona International Speedway, Smith was on the list of eligible drivers based on his status as a former NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year (2008). It will mark the first time in Smith's Cup career that he will compete in the Budweiser Shootout.

"I was both surprised and ecstatic when I heard the news," said the 27-year-old Smith. "The Budweiser Shootout is not only a prestigious event, but also an excellent opportunity to get our Furniture Row Chevrolet dialed in for the main show -- the Daytona 500 (Feb. 20). Actually, it's a morale boost for the entire team to be involved in the race instead of watching it on television or on top of our hauler."

The thought of starting a new season for Smith and the No. 78 Denver, Colo.-based team brings on optimism, optimism and more optimism.

"The slate is clean and I am sure all of the teams head into the new campaign with high hopes," stated Smith. "Our higher-than-normal excitement level is based on how we progressed throughout the 2010 season, especially during the final 10 races. We also understand that racing can be a cruel sport and knock you down just when you think you have all the pieces of the puzzle in place. Right now all of our attitudes are nothing but positive."

The 2010 season started off slow for Smith, which was expected since he only competed on a part-time basis for Furniture Row Racing the previous year. But with a new competition staff, led by crew chief Pete Rondeau and competition director Mark McArdle, the team steadily improved and turned heads during the stretch run, which saw Smith post three top-13 finishes in the final seven races. He also qualified in the top 10 in the last three races.

"We had a good offseason and are raring to go," said Rondeau, who took over the crew chief role in May of last year. "I have a good feeling -- the potential is there to be more successful than last year. I'm an even keel type of person, and what we need to do is to continue to stay focused and not get ahead of ourselves."

The Budweiser Shootout will be conducted in two segments of 25 and 50 laps with a 10-minute break between segments.

###

Budweiser Shootout Invite Adds to Excitement, Workload at Furniture Row Racing

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Budweiser Shootout Invite Adds to Excitement, Workload at Furniture Row Racing

DENVER (Jan. 19, 2011) -- When Furniture Row Racing received the recent news from NASCAR that its driver Regan Smith qualified for the invitational Budweiser Shootout, the excitement meter as well as the work meter hit new levels at the team's shop in Denver.

The invite to the prestigious, non-points Budweiser Shootout -- Saturday night, Feb. 12 at Daytona International Speedway -- was on the basis of Smith being a former NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year (2008).

It will mark the first time that Smith and the Furniture Row Racing organization will compete in the Budweiser Shootout, the traditional opening event of Daytona 500 Speedweeks. The shootout lineup will consist of nearly 30 drivers, including the 12 who earned a berth in last year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

"When I got the call that we'll be in the Budweiser Shootout it was an awesome piece of news," said the 27-year-old Smith. "To be a participant in this race instead of a television viewer is not only uplifting, but it also gives us the opportunity to better prepare for the Daytona 500."

The 75-lap Budweiser Shootout at the newly-paved 2.5-mile superspeedway is a precursor to the Daytona 500. Both the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500 (Feb. 20) will be televised nationally on FOX.

"The invite to participate in the Budweiser Shootout was a pleasant surprise," said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing general manager. "Any chance we get to race is a chance to win and that's why we do what we do. As our performance increases it is exciting to see the team getting closer to meeting that goal. We're ready to kick off the new season in the Budweiser Shootout."

###

Furniture Row Racing Aligns with Stewart-Haas Racing for Pit Crew

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Furniture Row Racing Aligns with
Stewart-Haas Racing for Over-The-Wall Pit Crew

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 11, 2011) -- Regan Smith's No. 78 over-the-wall pit crew for Furniture Row Racing will be employed and trained by Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) during the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

"We are excited to partner with SHR as it relates to the pit crew," said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing general manager. "After reviewing SHR's program, personnel and facility we are confident that SHR will deliver a crew that meets all of our objectives."

The No. 78 pit crew will be under the supervision of SHR pit crew coach Joe Piette, who also oversees the pit crews for Tony Stewart's No. 14 team and Ryan Newman's No. 39 team. The SHR team is based in Kannapolis, N.C.

â€œWe are very excited about our new partnership with Furniture Row Racing and having the opportunity to help contribute to the growth of their program, while also giving our pit crew the chance to compete and improve on a weekly basis,â€ said Bobby Hutchens, director of competition, Stewart-Haas Racing.

The first race for the new Furniture Row Racing pit crew will be the invitational Budweiser Shootout, Feb. 12 at Daytona International Speedway. Smith qualified for the non-points race on the basis of being a former NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year (2008). The first Sprint Cup points race is the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20.

The Denver-based, No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team is coming off its best season since the franchise entered the Sprint Cup competition in 2005. Last year, Smith qualified in all 36 races and came on strong during the second half of the season, scoring a number of top-20 finishes, including three top 13s in the final seven races. He also qualified in the top 10 in the last three Cup races of the 2010 campaign.

###

Furniture Row Racing Forms Marketing Department

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

DENVER, Colo. (Nov. 29, 2010) -- Furniture Row Racing announced that it has formed a marketing division and has named Kevin Jerome to direct the team's new multi-staff entity.

"The new marketing arm is dedicated and specific to Furniture Row Racing," explained team general manager Joe Garone. "This is an effort to expand our program as we seek to meet our goals of bringing a business partner on board for our No. 78 Sprint Cup team and a new primary sponsor to form a multicar operation. We are excited about Kevin joining our team and leading an aggressive marketing department. He brings a wealth of sales and marketing experience that will help grow the business side of Furniture Row Racing."

As marketing director for Furniture Row Racing, Jerome will oversee the team's sales, sponsorship relations, sponsorship procurement and licensing operations.

Jerome joins Furniture Row Racing from Alcatel-Lucent, a global 100 telecommunications equipment manufacturer. He had been affiliated with Alcatel-Lucent for the past six years and was most recently sales director for the company's internet protocol (IP) products.

"Our objective is to expand the visibility of Furniture Row Racing through the business community with potential and existing partners," said Jerome, who earned a master's degree in business from the University of Colorado. "I am leaving the premier telecommunications company to join Furniture Row Racing because I realize the potential of the motorsports company. I will take what my background has to offer and work diligently to use those skills with the goal of taking Furniture Row Racing to the next level from a marketing perspective."

Jerome will lead a marketing team which includes Pat Driscoll, corporate relations, business development and new hire Skip Fox, senior account manager, licensing. Driscoll has been involved with Furniture Row Racing the past two years, leading the Farm American program. Fox is joining the race team from Richard Petty Motorsports.

A native of Golden, Colo., Jerome and his wife, Debra, reside in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

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Smith Finishes 17th in Sprint Cup Finale

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 21, 2010) -- Regan Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team put on another strong performance, finishing 17th in Sunday's NASCAR season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

It was the fourth top-20 result in the last seven races for Smith as it capped the best season in the short history of the for Denver, Colo.-based team.

Smith, who started the 267-lap event from the 10th position, was running solidly in 12th place late in the race, but an untimely caution shortly after his last pit stop was costly as he lost five spots in track position.

"It would have been a lot better to end the season with a 12th-place finish, but there's not much we could have done there at the end -- we caught a bad break pitting just before a caution," stated Smith. "But looking at the big picture, I truly feel that we've come on strong and definitely hit a new level of performance at the end of the season. We are all pumped about 2011."

Crew chief Pete Rondeau said, "It was a good end to a rough week."

Rondeau was referring to Monday's highway accident in Colorado which resulted in heavy damage to the team's transporter as it was returning from last Sunday's race in Phoenix. With little time before the next race, the team managed to make contingency plans in a short period of time. Along with Richard Childress Racing graciously providing a fully-loaded transporter at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Furniture Row team also received an outpouring of support from the NASCAR community.

"We are very thankful for the outside support," added Rondeau. "And I am also so proud of everyone on this team for the extra effort given during a time of adversity. It definitely says plenty about the character of our Furniture Row Racing operation."

The Ford 400 race winner at Homestead was Carl Edwards -- his second straight. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and AJ Allmendinger.

Johnson captured the season Sprint Cup title -- his fifth straight championship. Denny Hamlin was second -- 39 points behind and Harvick was third -- 41 points behind.

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Smith Says it's Business as Usual....

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Despite Loss of Team Transporter, Smith Says it
Will be Business as Usual in Season Finale

DENVER (Nov. 17, 2010) -- It has by no means been a normal work week for Furniture Row Racing, but driver Regan Smith feels it will be a normal weekend for the Colorado-based team at the NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale in Homestead, Fla.

The team's transporter suffered heavy damage in a multi-vehicle accident Monday morning while returning to Denver from Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Phoenix. Shortly after hearing the news of the accident, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stepped up and offered to provide a fully-loaded transporter for the No. 78 team at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"You have to tip your hat to our team folks in Denver and appreciate how quickly they got things done following the accident," said Smith. "The logistics had to be overwhelming, but the bottom line is that we'll be racing this weekend and the transition to a RCR hauler should be seamless. We might have a couple of minor inconveniences like where to find a spare part. But other than that it will be business as usual.

"I also want to applaud RCR for providing us with a hauler. A class act from an outstanding partner. And to go through all of this extra work while battling for the season championship with the No. 29 car really shows the quality and depth of Richard Childress and his entire organization."

Smith went on to say from his home in North Carolina that he felt a little guilty because his weekly routine wasn't interrupted, which obviously wasn't the case at the Denver race shop.

"I haven't missed a beat this week," noted Smith. "I can only imagine the scrambling that our guys had to go through to button up all of the details for this weekend. I wish I could have been there to offer assistance, but since I couldn't I am hopeful that I can give them a good showing on the track at Homestead in our No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet."

Smith knows what it takes to produce a good showing, especially at the 1.5-mile tracks like Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"We've been fairly strong at the mile-and-a-half tracks for the better part of the year," explained the 27-year-old Smith. "We've come close a couple of times to a top-10 finish and this could be the weekend that we get it done. It would be a great way to head into the offseason."

Sunday's Ford 400 will be only the third Cup start for Smith at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His other two Cup appearances at the south Florida track came during his 2008 rookie-of-the-year season.

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All Systems Go Following Monday's Accident

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

All Systems Go For Furniture Row Racing
Following Major Accident Involving Team Transporter, Motor Coach

DENVER (Nov. 16, 2010) -- One day after the transporter and motor coach for Furniture Row Racing were heavily damaged in a major accident on northbound Interstate 25 in Colorado, team general manager Joe Garone said that all systems are in place for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale in Homestead, Fla.

The accident, which involved 34 vehicles on the icy highway, occurred Monday at approximately 8:40 a.m. near Larkspur, Colo., 40 miles south of the team's race shop in Denver. The Furniture Row vehicles were returning from Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Phoenix.

The two Furniture Row race cars for this weekend's Cup event will be transported from the race shop to south Florida in the team's test transporter. Once the test transporter arrives at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richard Childress Racing will provide the No. 78 Furniture Row team with a fully-loaded racing transporter.

"Words cannot describe how grateful we are to Richard Childress Racing for immediately stepping up and offering its support," said Garone. "Furniture Row Racing also wants to extend a sincere thank you to the NASCAR community for the outpouring of support we have received since the accident. It has been overwhelming and truly shows the spirit of brotherhood that embodies our sport."

The team's transportation drivers -- John Slingerland, Dennis LaCroix and Gary Miller -- escaped serious injuries and all have returned to the Denver area. The damaged motor coach and transporter, which housed the two Phoenix race cars and racing equipment, have been towed to an impound lot.

Garone added that he was extremely proud of the team's transportation drivers for how they navigated their vehicles to avoid serious incidents under adverse weather and road conditions.

"Our tractor/trailer averted head-on collisions and our motor coach driver -- Gary Miller -- put his life on the line when he made a split-second decision to ram into the back end of the team's trailer instead of running over cars," explained Garone. "It was a brave move that most likely avoided serious injuries to others. If you saw the aftermath of the motor coach, you would know what I mean."

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Smith Finishes 23rd in Phoenix

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

PHOENIX (Nov. 14, 2010) -- Regan Smith posted a 23rd-place finish in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Smith, who started the 312-lap race from the eighth position, could not get up to speed due to a shock issue on his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

"We couldn't get through the corners like we wanted to because of a shock problem," said Smith. "But we were able to maintain a low 20th position throughout the race. As we've been saying lately we won't be happy unless we get a top-15 or better finish. And with that said, we're not leaving Phoenix with any smiles on our faces."

Though Smith was not pleased with the overall performance, he feels the Furniture Row Racing team gained plenty of knowledge throughout the weekend.

"We continue to learn and I have a good feeling about what we can do next week at Homestead," stated Smith. "It's a mile-and-a-half track and those are the venues where we seem to do our best. We're going to fight hard to finish off the season with a strong result and carry our late-season momentum into 2011."

Crew chief Pete Rondeau echoed the same feelings as his driver.

"Qualifying eighth for the second straight race was a positive and there were other positives throughout the weekend," noted Rondeau. "We're going into the final race with everything we have and I am confident that we can end the season on a high note."

The race winner was Carl Edwards. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Ryan Newman, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson.

Denny Hamlin, who finished 12th, leaves Phoenix with a 15-point lead over Johnson in the Chase. Kevin Harvick is third -- 46 points behind.

The 36th and final NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season is Sunday (Nov. 21) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 8th in Phoenix

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

PHOENIX (Nov. 12, 2010) -- For the second straight week Regan Smith qualified eighth in his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. He will start Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race on the outside of Row 4 alongside Kyle Busch.

In Friday's time trials at Phoenix International Raceway, Smith covered the one-mile oval in 26.607 seconds at 135.303 miles per hour.

"A good lap overall, but I did leave a little on the table in turn one and I got a little loose in turns three and four," said Smith. "This is two good weeks of qualifying for Furniture Row Racing. The team keeps on building better race cars and the guys at the shop are doing a great job. I think the sky is the limit for us."

The pole winner was Carl Edwards (136.389 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: AJ Allmendinger, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at noon MT (2 p.m. ET).

###

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Eyeing 2011

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

DENVER, Colo. (Nov. 10, 2010) -- As the 2010 Sprint Cup season is winding down with the penultimate race scheduled for Sunday (Nov. 14) at Phoenix International Raceway, Regan Smith is looking at the final two events as an extension to the 2011 season.

"If you have a bad race during the season you only have to wait four or five days before you get back into the car," said Smith. "That's not much time for reflecting and feeling down. But it becomes a different scenario at this time of the year, you want to end the season knowing that you're gaining and picking up speed. If you're on the other end of the performance spectrum you have nearly three long months to think about it. Ouch!"

The good news for Smith and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team is that they've been closing out the year with their best racing of the season But with two races remaining, Smith wants to make sure the recent performance level continues and there's not a detour.

"We're so excited about the future of Furniture Row Racing that sometimes we lose a little patience," explained Smith. "We want the baby steps to become giant steps, but we know better that this is not the way the improvement meter works."

If you take away the Martinsville race (Oct. 24) where Smith got hit and shoved into the wall, the team's performance in the last 10 races is a vivid sign of improvement. In nine of the last 10 races, Smith has posted three top 13s and five top 20s, including two 12th-place finishes. Smith's average finish during this period is 19.11 compared to an average finish of 26.66 for the first 24 races of the season.

"That's an increase of seven positions -- a nice jump," said Smith. "Now if we can improve another seven positions we'll be looking at Chase material. But we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, we have a long way to go, but we're on the right track with our Furniture Row Chevrolet."

Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 will be Smith's fifth start at the one-mile Phoenix oval. At the Phoenix spring race, he finished 26th.

###

Smith Finishes 22nd in Texas

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 7, 2010) -- Regan Smith posted a 22nd-place result in Sunday's AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race.

Smith was in position to pull off another top-15 finish as he did in three of the past four races, but a lack of grip pushed him backwards -- from 14th to 22nd -- in the final three-lap restart at Texas Motor Speedway.

"We took two tires on the final pit stop which was the right call, but we had a grip issue during those last three laps," said Smith. "We fought handling problems for most of the race, but when it got dark and cooler air the Furniture Row Chevrolet did pick up the pace. As we said before the race anything less than a top-15 finish would not meet our objective. We aim to get back to top-15s in the final two races of the season at Phoenix and Homestead."

Though the finish didn't meet the team's top-15 finishing goal, crew chief Pete Rondeau felt there were positives that took place during the weekend for the Denver, Colo-based team.

"We had a top-15 in sight at the end, but we had too many issues to deal with and fell off the pace by a little," explained Rondeau. "But the weekend overall wasn't that bad for our Furniture Row Racing team. We had solid practices on Friday and Saturday and posted our best qualifying effort (eighth) of the season. We have a good idea of the things that didn't work out in the race and we'll correct those issues and move on."

The race winner was Denny Hamlin, who took over the Chase lead -- 33 points in front of second-place Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five finishers in order were: Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Joey Logano and Greg Biffle.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday Nov. 14 at Phoenix International Raceway. The final race is the following Sunday (Nov. 21) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

###

Smith Notches Best Starting Position of Season

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 5, 2010) -- As a result of posting his best qualifying effort of the 2010 season, Regan Smith will start eighth in Sunday's AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

In Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.5-mile oval in 27.948 seconds at 193.216 miles per hour

"We've had a really good Furniture Row Chevy today," said Smith, who has scored three top-13 finishes in the last four races. "The guys did a great job and we've been working closely as a team. I think right around Indy time (late July) is when we started to turn things around for us. We've been picking up the pace and everyone is feeling upbeat about our recent finishes."

The pole winner was Elliott Sadler (195.397 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Ragan.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at noon MT.

###

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Carrying Momentum to Texas

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Nov. 3, 2010) -- Buoyed by recent strong performances, Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team will take their late-season momentum to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday's running of the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race.

Smith has posted three top-13 results in the last four Cup races, including a 12th-place finish in Sunday's event at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. His other top finishes were 12th in Fontana, Calif (Oct. 10) and 13th in Charlotte, N.C. (Oct. 16). The only blemish for Smith during this four-race span was two weeks ago in Martinsville, Va. where he was involved in an accident.

"Though the progress we're making is a positive, we still leave the races unfulfilled because we always feel that we could have done better in our Furniture Row Chevrolet," said the 27-year-old Smith. "Sure, it's a good feeling to be running alongside the big dogs of the sport, but we need to step it up and get to the next level of top-10 finishes. Right now, a top-10 finish would almost feel like a win."

Smith said the team's finishing goals have been changing throughout the 2010 campaign.

"At first we wanted to stay in the top 35 in points and not have to qualify on time," noted Smith. "Then it was a top-25 finish. That goal was later dropped to a top-20. Now, if we don't get a top-15 or better finish it is not considered a successful weekend. It's been fun this year seeing our Furniture Row Racing team improve in all areas of the operation, including the driver."

The good news for Smith is that the 1.5-mile Texas oval is the kind of track that has been good for the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team.

"We have probably had our best performances this season on the mile-and-a-half and two-mile tracks," said Smith. "We had a decent finish (21st) at Texas in the spring race. As a team we've come a long way since our last visit to Texas and that's why I feel good about our chances this weekend."

###

Another Strong Finish for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 31, 2010) -- The improvement roll continues for the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team as driver Regan Smith equaled a career-best finish of 12th in Sunday's AMP Energy Juice 500 Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

It was Smith's third top-13 finish in the last four races. Three weeks ago he finished 12th in Fontana, Calif. and came back the following week with a 13th-place result in Charlotte, N.C. The only blemish during this four-race span was last week in Martinsville, Va., when Smith's car got hit and crashed into the concrete wall while running in the top 20.

"Yes, it feels good to come away with another respectable finish, but we're never satisfied -- we want more," said Smith in post-race interviews. "We're on a nice streak, but when we get a top 10, I will be happier."

Smith, who started the race from the 39th position due to a mechanical issue in Saturday's qualifying session, patiently marched his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet to the front. The methodical driver, who started his racing career at a young age in central New York, was steady throughout the event as he was positioned in either the top-five, top-10 or top-15 for a good portion of the 188-lap race on the 2.66-mile oval.

"We knew if we could stay away from accidents we could run with any car out there," stated Smith. "This was our first superspeedway race we finished since last year's July race in Daytona. "Our strategy was sound and the pit crew did a great job. I wish we could have snuck in a few more positions and get that top-10. But overall another great team effort from the Furniture Row Racing team."

Smith made a nifty late-race charge in his No. 78 Chevrolet as he diced his way through traffic. He was positioned in 26th-place on Lap 178 and gained 14 positions in the closing 10 laps.

"Regan drove a great spot race," said crew chief Pete Rondeau. "He kept the car out of harm's way and made some nice moves to get to where he needed to be. We just need to be calm about our recent accomplishments. We are on the right track, but still not where we want to be. The entire team gave it an outstanding effort this weekend."

The race winner was Clint Bowyer. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kevin Harvick, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Reutimann and Joey Logano.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Nov. 7) at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

###

Mechanical Problem Spoils Smith's Qualifying Run in Talladega

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 30, 2010) -- A starter issue on the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet was the culprit in Regan Smith's 39th-place qualifying effort Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. Smith will start on the inside of Row 20 for Sunday's AMP Energy Juice 500 Sprint Cup race.

"We felt that we had the muscle to post a strong qualifying run, but the starter problem that surfaced before qualifying proved costly," stated Smith. "The good news is that it happened today and not tomorrow. Starting in the back here is not that big of a deal. The key is to stay in the draft and stay away from multicar wrecks."

Smith's qualifying lap on Talladega's 2.66-mile oval included a time of 52.799 seconds and a speed of 181.367 miles per hour.

The pole winner was Juan Pablo Montoya (184.640 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Joe Nemechek and Jeff Burton.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN at 11 a.m. MT (noon local time). A 60-minute prerace show airs on ESPN2 at 10 a.m. MT (11 a.m. local).

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Despite Superspeedway Misfortunes, Smith Likes His Chances at Talladega

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 27, 2010) -- "If we can finish the Talladega race unscathed then in all likelihood we should come away with a pretty good finish in Sunday's Sprint Cup event," said Regan Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. "We truly feel our superspeedway program can compete with anyone out there. We just haven't had a chance recently to show our strength at the big tracks."

When Smith says that the surging Furniture Row team hasn't had a chance to show its mettle on the superspeedways, he is referring to his DNFs (did not finish) in the three superspeedway races this season.

He was collected in a Lap 8 accident in the Daytona 500, blew an engine while running up front at the April race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and got collected again in a multicar wreck during the July Daytona event.

"That's three-for-three of not finishing a restrictor-plate race this season," stated the 27-year-old Smith. "The only restrictor-plate race we did finish this year was the Gatorade qualifying race for the Daytona 500. We did fairly well in that race by finishing fifth. We truly feel we have the potential to do very well this weekend."

Last year while driving a limited schedule for Furniture Row Racing, Smith finished 15th in the spring Talladega race and 12th in the summer Daytona race.

"We do know how to get it done on the superspeedways, but just haven't had the right kind of luck lately," added Smith, who has recently come on strong in the homestretch races.

Knowing how to get it done on the superspeedways, especially at Talladega, is an understatement for Smith. In his mind he won the 2008 Talladega fall race. He passed Tony Stewart on the final lap, but after crossing the finish line with the apparent victory, NASCAR informed Smith that he was being penalized for passing Stewart under the out-of-bounds yellow line. The victory went to Stewart while Smith was sent all the way back to 18th place.

"I haven't forgotten about that race -- it still lingers," said Smith. "I've replayed that last lap in my mind many times over the past two years and each time I felt like I won the race. But the reality is Stewart has the trophy and I'm still hoping to get another crack at a victory."

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Smith Gets Clipped, Spoiling a Potentially Strong Run

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 24, 2010) -- Regan Smith was biding his time at Martinsville Speedway, knowing that he had a car capable of equaling or bettering his two finishes the past two weeks of 12th and 13th.

But on Lap 185 of 500 and running in the low 20s, Smith was the victim of two cars banging each other for position. The end result was a frustrating 31st-place finish in Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup race.

To avoid the bumping between Scott Speed and Sam Hornish Jr., Smith drove his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet to the high side. As he was about to clear both cars, Speed's No. 82 machine fishtailed and clipped Smith's car. The incident resulted in Smith crashing into the concrete barrier with major car damage.

After lengthy repairs to the crippled No. 78 car, Smith returned to action but finished 58 laps down.

"We had a good weekend going until that hit," said Smith, who qualified 13th. "It looked like the No. 82 (Speed) and No. 77 (Hornish) were about to wreck each other, so I went on the outside to avoid them. I almost made it, but the No. 82 got a piece of our car and put me in the fence. It was too bad for everyone at Furniture Row because we had a nice streak going."

Smith added, "We didn't start off the race as we had hoped, but we were making the right adjustments and the car was definitely improving."

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday, Oct. 31 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

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Smith Qualifies 13th in Martinsville

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 22, 2010) -- Chalk up another good day of racing for Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team.

The 27-year-old driver notched a solid qualifying lap in Friday's time trials and will start 13th in Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the .526-mile short track in 19.598 seconds at 96.622 miles per hour.

"We were good in practice and then came back to record a solid qualifying lap," said Smith, who has scored top-15 finishes (12th & 13th) in the last two Cup races. "The Furniture Row team has given me another good car and I look forward to continuing our recent success. We're off to a good start and that's a reassuring feeling heading into the race."

The pole winner was Denny Hamlin (97.018 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Marcos Ambrose, Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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"Even-Keel" Smith Says it's Time to Pick Up Short Track Performance

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 20, 2010) -- The past two Sprint Cup races have instilled an added boost of confidence and gratification to the Furniture Row Racing team.

With finishes of 12th and 13th in Fontana, Calif. and Charlotte, N.C. respectively, it marked the first time that driver Regan Smith and the Colorado-based team achieved back-to-back top-15 results. They were also the team's two best finishes of the 2010 season.

"I really don't like to make too much about the past two weeks because we need to have these top-15 finishes come with more regularity in our No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet," said Smith. "Sure it feels good to walk away from the track with a sense of accomplishment, but we have goals where we want to be and we're not there yet. The good news is that we are heading in the right direction."

Smith would feel a whole lot better if he can pull off a 12th or 13th-place finish in Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 at the .526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway .

"The intermediate tracks have been our strong suit -- it's the short tracks that we are looking to step up the pace," stated Smith. "We had a good test session at the Milwaukee Mile in late August, and that made a difference for how we recently performed at Richmond and New Hampshire. That's why I am feeling more confident about this weekend."

Smith's best finish in four career Cup starts at Martinsville Speedway was 14th, which came during his 2008 rookie-of-the-year season. At this year's spring race in Martinsville Smith finished 32nd.

"We know what needs to get done," added Smith. "And we also understand that in order to be a competitive team you need to run well at all types of tracks. So, a good result this weekend at the half-mile Martinsville track will go a long way in giving our confidence level another boost. It feels good knowing that our hard work this year is paying off with better performances."

Smith's crew chief Pete Rondeau feels the No. 78 team has been jelling in all the key areas that is necessary to achieve success.

"Regan has done a good job driving the car, the crew has been equally as good in preparing the car, we've had good pit strategy and our pit stops have been good," explained Rondeau. "When those four ingredients are clicking at the same time, you usually get some pretty good results. It's been fun and we want to keep it that way."

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Capture 2nd Straight Top-15 Finish

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 16, 2010) -- For the second straight week Regan Smith brought home a top-15 finish as the Furniture Row Racing driver claimed a 13th-place result in Saturday night's Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

With his 12th-place result in Fontana, Calif. last week, it's the first time in Smith's short career that he has scored back-to-back top-15 finishes.

"We're having a blast and it is sure gratifying to see all of the hard work pay off," said Smith. "We're happy with the improvement, but not content where we are at. We want to keep moving forward. I guess before you get top-10s, you first need to get top-15s. We're trending in the right direction."

Smith who had a strong car during the prerace practice sessions at Charlotte, got bumped around a little early and fell a lap down. But a persistent Furniture Row team, which included quick pit stops by the over-the-wall crew, fought back during the 334-lap event to finish on the lead lap.

"Just like last week in California, the key to our result tonight was a great pit call by Pete (Rondeau, crew chief)," said Smith, who is on track to start in all 36 season Cup races for the first time in his career.

When the final caution came out on Lap 310, Smith was positioned in 18th place. Rondeau decided against pitting and opted for track position. When the race was restarted with 21 laps remaining Smith was in eighth place.

"We knew we weren't going to hold off everyone who took new tires, but we did know that when the tires leveled off, we would be in good shape," explained Smith. "The decision not to pit was a gain of five spots in track position. We had a good car all day and it was at its best on long runs. This team had plenty of fight today."

The race winner was Jamie McMurray. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle.

The next stop for Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based team will be Sunday (Oct. 24) at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

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Car Better Than Where it Qualified Says Smith

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2010) -- Regan Smith fell short in his qualifying lap Thursday evening, and as a result will start 32nd in Saturday night's Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

After a solid practice session earlier in the day, Smith said he didn't anticipate how much grip the track had during his qualifying lap. His time and speed on the 1.5-mile oval was 28.588 seconds at 188.890 miles per hour.

"We have a good race car and it's too bad that the Furniture Row Chevy is starting at the rear of the field," said Smith. "This is a 500-mile race and there's plenty of time to get to the front. The way our car handled in race trim during today's practice I am excited about Saturday night and feel that we can bring home another strong finish."

The pole winner was Jeff Gordon (191.544 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, AJ Allmendinger, Mark Martin and Paul Menard.

Saturday night's race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Taking Momentum to Charlotte

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 13, 2010) -- Though Regan Smith is coming off his best finish of the season, the Furniture Row Chevrolet driver is not allowing the performance to affect or consume his mental preparation for Saturday night's Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

When he was asked recently about his 12th-place result in Sunday's race in Fontana, Calif., a philosophical Smith said, "It's the old saying -- don't get too low when things are going bad or too high when things are going well, keep the focus on the next race. But I can tell you this -- the Furniture Row Racing team is a work in progress. We're basically in the first year of a multiyear plan. And right now I can honestly say that we're on track or even slightly ahead of where we thought we would be at this stage. That is good news."

Smith has indeed picked up the pace the second half of the season even though some of his strong performances were overshadowed by bad racing luck and and mechanical malfunctions.

"We are getting better at minimizing mistakes and overcoming adversity," said No. 78 crew chief Pete Rondeau. "It's called experience and we're seeing daylight. Last week was a good example. Regan got called for speeding twice, but we all kept our heads on straight and came back to lead the race with 12 laps remaining. That was pretty cool."

Smith couldn't ask for a better venue to follow his 12th-place California result than Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"Charlotte is a marquee track and I really enjoy racing there," stated Smith. "What's even better is the fact that the mile-and-half tracks like Charlotte are where we seem to do well. It's just a matter of time before we get the first top-10 monkey-off-our-back finish."

In only three previous Cup starts at Charlotte, Smith has finishes of 19th and 31st in 2008 and 19th at this year's Memorial Day weekend race. Charlotte was also the site where Smith scored his first top-10 finish in the Nationwide Series at the May 2006 race.

"I have a comfort level at Charlotte and hopefully we can bring home some more good news for our Furniture Row Racing team."

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Smith Finishes 12th in California; Best Result of Season

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Fontana, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2010) -- Regan Smith and Furniture Row Racing came back from two pit-road speeding penalties to post their best finish of the season -- a 12th-place result in Sunday's Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. Smith's previous season best was 14th at the Atlanta spring race.

It was an exciting ending for the Denver, Colo.-based team, which saw Smith's No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet take the lead with 12 laps remaining, thanks to a great pit call by crew chief Pete Rondeau.

When the caution was waved on Lap 184 of 200, Rondeau decided against four tires and instead took two. The decision vaulted Smith from the low 20s in track position all the way to second. When the race was restarted on Lap 188 Smith grabbed the lead, but could not hold off the onslaught of cars which took four tires.

"Two tires worked for us, we got the much needed track position," said Smith. "Pete made a really good call at the end. When we took the two tires the car was pretty good. I was just lacking a little bit of grip to hold it for much more than that one lap. But to still maintain 12th was pretty good. It was just frustrating when you're that close to a top-10 and not get it. We're working hard as a team with Furniture Row Racing to get the company's first top-10 monkey-off-our-back finish and move on to bigger and better things."

Smith went on to elaborate on the closing laps of the 400-mile race, "When we made our (two tire) move we knew we needed more cautions to make it work. We did get that one caution and it played out like you draw it up in a book. When I went into (turns) three and four and the car stuck pretty good I said, 'maybe the clean air was going to be enough to do it for us.' Then when I went down into turns one and two I couldn't hold the bottom like I want to and lost ground. But a good effort all-in-all for our American farmers and ranchers, Farm American.com and Furniture Row Racing."

Regarding the two speeding penalties, Smith said, "It was a roller coaster day for us. We were running in the top-15 early and then got called for speeding twice on pit road which moved us all the way back to the low 30s in track position. My lights in the Farm American Chevrolet said I wasn't speeding and I am not sure why I was called for it. I was told NASCAR called 12 speeding penalties today. I guess misery loves company."

The race winner was Tony Stewart. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman.

The next Sprint Cup race is Saturday night, Oct. 16 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 19th in California

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2010) â€“ Regan Smith continued his top-20 qualifying streak. The Furniture Row Racing driver posted the 19th fastest run in Fridayâ€™s time trials here at Auto Club Speedway and will start on the inside of Row 10 for Sundayâ€™s Pepsi Max 400.

Smithâ€™s No. 78 Chevrolet covered the 2-mile oval in 39.357 seconds at 182.941 miles per hour. It was the fifth straight race that Smith has earned a starting position in the top 20.

â€œWe made a nice gain from practice,â€ said Smith, who was 29th fastest in the earlier practice session. â€œI felt I got through turns one and two pretty good, but stumbled a little in (turns) three and four. I feel we have a good baseline to work from to get our Furniture Row Chevy ready for Sunday. Tomorrowâ€™s (Saturday) practice sessions are going to be important.â€

The pole winner was Jamie McMurray (185.285 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Elliott Sadler, Matt Kenseth, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kasey Kahne.

Sundayâ€™s race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at noon MT (2 p.m. ET).

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Smith Fights Handling Issues, Finishes 26th in Kansas

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 3, 2010) -- Regan Smith finished 26th in Sunday's Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup Race at Kansas Speedway.

After a strong qualifying effort of 13th and two solid practices on Saturday, Smith was looking to finish off the weekend with a positive performance at the 1.5-mile oval. But as soon as the green flag dropped to start the 267-lap, 400-mile race Smith experienced handling issues with his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

"We just couldn't get the car to stick the way we wanted to," said Smith, who drove in only his second career Cup race at Kansas Speedway. "What's disappointing is that everything leading up to the race was positive. The car felt good in qualifying and also during Saturday's final practice session. But we'll learn from what happened today and I am confident that we'll continue our improvement."

Furniture Row Racing crew chief Pete Rondeau echoed the same feelings as Smith during post-race interviews.

"We were off -- just missed the setup today," said Rondeau. "We were decent yesterday in practice and had a feeling the car might be too tight today and it was. We just need to get better on Sunday compared to Saturday and that will come with time."

The Kansas race winner was Greg Biffle. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Stewart and Jeff Gordon.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Oct. 10) at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

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Smith Qualifies 13th in Kansas

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 1, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 13th in Sunday's Price Chopper 400 Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. It was the fourth straight top-20 qualifying effort for Smith.

In Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 1.5-mile in 31.102 seconds at 173.622 miles per hour.

"My hat's off to this race team for the changes they made after practice, just an awesome job by our crew, led by crew chief Pete Rondeau," said Smith, who was 33rd fastest in practice. "The Furniture Row Chevy was smooth and we got ourselves a decent starting position for Sunday's race. We're off to a solid start and we'll have a couple of practice sessions tomorrow to fine-tune the setup."

The pole winner was Kasey Kahne (174.644 mph). Rounding out the top-five were: Paul Menard, Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano and Greg Biffle.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Regan Smith Kansas Speedway Advance

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Lack of Familiarity with Kansas Speedway
Not a Concern for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 29, 2010) -- It doesn't matter to Regan Smith that he has had limited experience at Kansas Speedway, site of Sunday's Price Chopper 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

The 27-year-old driver out of the Furniture Row Racing camp has one Cup start at the 1.5-mile oval, and that was in 2008, the same year he was awarded rookie of the year honors.

"I haven't run a lot of laps at Kansas, but I still expect our Furniture Row Chevrolet to be strong there," said Smith. "A mile-in-a-half track with a flatter surface like Kansas suits our program. I expect good things this weekend. The track is a close twin to Chicagoland Speedway and we had a good night there back in July."

Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team are seeing progress as they continue their quest for more performance jumps.

"Improvement is a slow process but we're seeing gains," noted Smith. "We're by far a better team than when we started the 2010 season. Some unforced errors have cost us -- like my two speeding penalties last week in Dover -- but overall we feel that we have graduated to a new level. With that said, we still have a ways to go before you'll see big smiles on our faces. Joe Garone (general manager), Pete Rondeau (crew chief) and Mark McArdle (competition director) know what it takes and the good news is that we're on the right path."

The last time Smith was on a mile-in-a-half track was Atlanta (Sept. 5) and he posted a 17th-place finish.

"We're at a top-20 range right now but want to lower that to top-15 team finishes," stated Smith. "A mistake-free weekend in Kansas might just give us the finish we've been looking for recently."

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Regan Smith Kansas Speedway Advance

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Speeding Penalties Spoil Strong Run for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DOVER, Del. (Sept. 26, 2010) -- Regan Smith was cruising in a fast race car during Sunday's AAA 400 Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. But back-to-back pit-road speeding penalties past the midway point of the event proved costly for the Furniture Row Racing driver, who saw a potential top-15 finish turn into a 26th-place result.

"I feel awful because we had a good car today and didn't take advantage of what we had," said Smith. "Those two speeding penalties cost us big time in track position. The team gave me a fast car and we were much better than where we finished."

Driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, Smith was running in 17th place when he entered pit road for a green-flag stop on Lap 267 of 400. He was cited by NASCAR for speeding and was assessed a pass-through penalty. As he came down pit road for the pass-through, he was cited again for speeding and returned to pit road for a stop and go penalty.
The two speeding penalties put Smith three laps down.

"A devastating turn of events, but on the positive side we had another solid weekend in terms of performance," stated Smith, who qualified 18th during Friday's time trials at the one-mile all-concrete oval.

Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet showed its mettle early in the race when Smith caught the leaders and got back on the lead lap. No "Lucky Dog" free pass was needed.

"Our performance has indeed picked up thanks to the commitment from our ownership and all of the hard work by the guys at the track and at the shop," noted Smith. "What's been disappointing is that our finishes have not always equaled our performance level."

The race winner was Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Burton, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (Oct. 3) at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

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Smith Qualifies 18th in Dover

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DOVER, Del. (Sept. 24, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 18th in Sunday's AAA 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. It was the third straight top-20 qualifying effort for Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team.

"We're starting to get more consistent, which is a credit to everyone in the organization," said Smith. "It was a smooth lap and everything overall felt good. During practice in race trim the Furniture Row Chevy had decent balance, but we still have a little work ahead of us and that's what the two practice sessions are for tomorrow."

In Friday's time trials, Smith rounded the all-concrete Monster Mile in 23.324 seconds at 154.347 miles.

The pole winner was Jimmie Johnson (155.736 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: AJ Allmendinger, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Sunday's 400-lap, 400-mile race will be televised on ESPN, 11 a.m. MT. A 60-minute prerace show will air at 10 a.m. MT on ESPN2.

###

Smith, Furniture Row Racing to Continue Preparatory Training

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 22, 2010) -- For Furniture Row Racing and driver Regan Smith the remaining nine races are not about points or the team's standing position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"What we're looking for right now is to continue our improvement and learn as much as we can in these homestretch races so we'll be better prepared for the 2011 season," said driver Regan Smith, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Thursday, Sept. 23. "It's like being in a college preparatory school."

Smith added, "Many changes were made after the 2009 season and we entered the 2010 campaign with what felt like a new team. The new structure, new personnel and new philosophy are paying off as we've been making some pretty good gains lately with our No. 78 Chevrolet."

When asked about Furniture Row Racing's improved performance this season, Mark McArdle -- the team's managing director of competition - keeps things in check and says, "This is the first year of a three year project. There's plenty of work ahead of us, but we're on the right course."

Smith, who finished 19th last week in New Hampshire, is eyeing another top-20 or top-15 performance in Sunday's AAA 400 Cup race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

"We're a better team than what we were the last time we raced at Dover in May," stated Smith. "There is no question that everything has improved with our Furniture Row Racing team, including the driver."

Sunday's race will be Smith's sixth career start at Dover's Monster Mile. He has scored three top-25 finishes in his previous races, including a 24th-place result in May.

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Smith Finishes 19th in New Hampshire Cup Race

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 19, 2010) -- Regan Smith finished 19th in Sunday's Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The result was Smith's best finish in seven starts at the 1.058-mile oval. It was also his 12th finish of the season of 21st or better.

"We had another good weekend of racing in our Furniture Row Chevrolet," said Smith, who qualified 20th for the 300-lap race. "That test session we had a few weeks ago in Milwaukee has really made a big difference. We stuck to our game plan today and fought for everything we got. We came back from a lap down and were able to score a top-20 finish. The Furniture Row Racing improvement continues and it sure feels good."

Furniture Row crew chief Pete Rondeau, who hails from nearby Saco, Maine, was equally pleased with the team's performance at what he calls his home track.

"Regan did a great job today," said Rondeau. "We didn't make many changes to the car and Regan drove his heart out. We talk about the test session that we conducted in Milwaukee and how beneficial it was. From a crew chief standpoint it is really gratifying to apply what you learned, and then see it pay off. Today was another great team effort. We just need to continue our work ethic and I am confident our improvement will soon hit a new level."

The race winner was Clint Bowyer. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick.

The next stop for the Sprint Cup Series will be Sunday (Sept. 26) at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

###

Smith Qualifies 20th in New Hampshire

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 17, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 20th in Sunday's Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

In Friday's qualifying session, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 1.058-mile oval in 28.829 seconds at 132.117 miles per hour.

"We made a nice gain from practice and it wasn't a bad lap overall," said Smith. "The next step is to get our Furniture Row Chevy dialed in for Sunday. The two practices tomorrow (Saturday) are going to be important -- I feel we're off to a good start."

The pole winner was Brad Keselowski (133.572 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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More Data, More Experience, More Testing Pays off For Smith

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 15, 2010) -- Regan Smith is anxious to get to New Hampshire Motor Speedway based on last weekend's performance at Richmond International Raceway.

Smith and the Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing team went into the Richmond race following a successful test session at the Milwaukee Mile. What the team learned at the Wisconsin State Fair track provided a solid direction. The result was an improved qualifying effort (17th) and a solid race performance where Smith was running in the top-15 before the front-end splitter got damaged on his No. 78 Chevrolet.

"The Milwaukee test definitely helped us in Richmond, and what we learned in Richmond gave us a further direction on how to attack the New Hampshire track," said Smith. "When you just can't wait for the next weekend of racing to start you know you're experiencing both success and fun. Spirits are high in the Furniture Row camp."

Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be Smith's sixth career Sprint Cup race at the 1.058-mile oval. At the June race he posted a 33rd-place result.

"We're confident that our Furniture Row Chevrolet will be better than what it was at this year's first race in New Hampshire," stated Smith. "We have more data to go on and more experience."

Smith's crew chief -- Pete Rondeau -- has plenty of experience at the New England facility. He grew up in nearby Saco, Maine and raced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway many times in the former Busch North Series.

"I love going back to New England and competing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway," said Rondeau. "Our test session in Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago was designed to help us in both Richmond and New Hampshire. We felt we made progress in Richmond and look to continue the improvement this weekend in Loudon. If we can stay away from trouble we should bring home a strong finish on Sunday. Weâ€™ve made some great gains this year and itâ€™s been an enjoyable work in progress."

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Mid-Race Hit Spoils Smith's Solid Short Track Weekend at Richmond

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 11, 2010) -- Regan Smith drove a damaged race car to a 25th-place finish in Saturday night's Air Guard 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

Smith, who qualified 17, virtually ran in the top-15 for the first 50 laps of the 400-lap, 300-mile race. He continued the pace in the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet until he got tangled in a typical short track fender bender near the midpoint of the event.

Unfortunately for Smith, the damage was more severe than a few sheet metal dents. The front-end of the No. 78 machine took a good hit, including the all-important splitter.

"Once the splitter got wrecked we were in trouble -- it threw off the car's balance and the aerodynamic package," said No. 78 crew chief Pete Rondeau. "We needed more cautions so we could have fixed some of the problem. But the yellow flag didn't fly that much tonight -- I think we only had three cautions in the entire race which is unusual for a short track event."

Rondeau added, "We tested at the Milwaukee Mile last week and came into this race with the goal of improving our short track program and we did that. We had two solid practices on Friday and a respectable qualifying effort. Then we started the race strong, running in the mid teens until the first caution came out. The splitter issue did spoil what could've been a pretty good night of racing. But all-in-all we did make improvements and feel good about that."

Though he was not pleased with the result, Smith was upbeat about how the car performed.

"I am not happy with the finish, but I am happy with the weekend performance," stated Smith as he was leaving the .75-mile Richmond track. "The Furniture Row Chevy was really hooked up before the front-end damage. The car had grip, it had speed and it was just a lot of fun to drive. But once our car got hit it was never the same. We had a good weekend and I look forward to the same -- minus the damage -- in next week's race in New Hampshire (Sept. 19).

The race winner was Denny Hamlin. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Marcos Ambrose.

The race had three cautions for 28 laps and there were 14 lead changes among six drivers.

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Smith Qualifies 17th in Richmond

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 10, 2010) -- The improvement continues for Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team. The 26-year-old driver produced a solid qualifying effort Friday and will start 17th in Saturday night's Air Guard 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

"We bettered our qualifying average by a bunch and that's good news," said Smith, who came into the race with a 27.6 qualifying average. "Actually we had good results in both of our practice sessions today. The test at the Milwaukee Mile last week is paying dividends -- no question about that. Our Furniture Row Chevrolet should be good tomorrow night too."

Smith posted a qualifying lap at the .75-mile oval of 21.359 seconds at 126.410 miles per hour.

The pole winner was Carl Edwards (127.762). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Juan Pablo Montoya, AJ Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann.

Saturday night's race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

Smith Looking to Capitalize on Milwaukee Test in Richmond

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 8, 2010) -- In preparation for Saturday night's short track race at Richmond International Raceway, Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team spent part of last week testing at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis.

"We've been showing improvement in many areas this season," said Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. "But if there's one area that we feel needs extra attention it is our short track performances. As a driver I am happy that we had the opportunity to test at the Milwaukee Mile and it's one more indication of the commitment to the future that our Furniture Row Racing team is making."

Smith added, "We came away from the Milwaukee test feeling that what we learned will have a positive impact, especially at the next two races in Richmond and New Hampshire."

Smith, who is coming off a respectable 17th-place performance in Sunday night's event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, feels the team has reached a new level since the beginning of the 2010 campaign and is close to reaching another level.

"The progress we've made has been a lot of fun," said Smith. "Mark (McArdle, competition director), Pete (Rondeau, crew chief), the engineering staff and all of the guys have been 100 percent committed to make Furniture Row Racing a better team each and every week. Our goal is to return to Richmond at this time next year and be a contender for a Chase position."

Saturday night's Air Guard 400 will be Smith's fifth career Cup start at the .75-mile Richmond track. In this year's spring race at Richmond he finished 30th.

"Though I haven't had the results I would have liked at Richmond, I enjoy racing there -- it's the kind of track we all cut our teeth on," said the 26-year-old Smith and NASCAR's 2008 Sprint Cup rookie of the year.

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Smith Qualifies 27th in Atlanta

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

ATLANTA (Sept. 4, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 27th in Sunday night's Emory Health Care 500 Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

In Saturday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.54-mile oval in 30.076 seconds at 184.333 miles per hour.

"We got a little loose during the qualifying lap and that scrubbed off some speed," said Smith. "I felt like we made some gains in the two practice sessions today and that makes us feel confident about our race package for tomorrow night."

The pole winner was Denny Hamlin (187.380 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart.

Sunday night's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

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New Contract in Hand, Smith Aims for More Improvement at Atlanta

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 1, 2010) -- With a new contract in his back pocket, NASCAR driver Regan Smith heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday night's Emory Healthcare 500 Sprint Cup race.

The 26-year-old Smith recently signed a two-year contract extension with Furniture Row Racing as the driver of the team's No. 78 Chevrolet.

"No doubt it's a great feeling to receive a vote of confidence," said Smith. "As I have said many times, we're a team on the move, and I am happy to be part of the program. All of the guys are excited about the commitment made by Furniture Row Racing, and we only see good things happening in the future."

The first stop for Smith since signing the new contract will be at the high-speed 1.54-mile oval of Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he posted a 14th-place finish in March. It was a respectable result despite Smith's lack of experience at the aerodynamically-sensitive track. He stated before the race that he needed more time on the Atlanta track to develop a better feel for the quad-oval.

"We were all pleased with the 14th-place finish at Atlanta earlier in the year, but to be honest the Atlanta track is still a work in progress for me," noted Smith, the 2008 Raybestos Sprint Cup rookie of the year. "Each time I race there I not only gain experience, but also more confidence. It was a big morale boost to come away with a top-15 finish.

"The mile-in-a-half tracks have been one of our strong suits this season. We need to keep it going in Atlanta and hopefully better the 14th-place finish we had in March."

In his previous two career Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway Smith finished 38th and 31st -- both coming in the 2008 season.

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Agree to Contract Extension

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 26, 2010) -- Furniture Row Racing announced today that Regan Smith has signed a contract extension through the 2012 season to drive the team's No. 78 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Smith, the 2008 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year, is currently in his second season driving for the Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing team. Last year he competed on a part-time basis, entering 20 races. The 26-year-old native of central New York is running a full schedule this season and will do the same in 2011 and 2012.

"Regan is a young, talented driver with an outstanding future," said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing general manager. "He has done a great job as our athlete and also as a spokesperson for our organization. The contract extension does indeed express a serious commitment by both the race team and driver."

Garone added, "We have a team of proven employees, state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated partners. We are producing increasingly positive performances and strongly feel that we're on the right path to become a contending team."

Smith, who has competed in 83 career Cup races since his debut in March 2007 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, also feels the energy and spirit of Furniture Row Racing's commitment.

"I am both happy and humbled about the contract extension," said Smith. "Furniture Row Racing is a team on the move. I feel we've made some big gains this season and we are all encouraged about the future. I really admire the behind-the-scenes work ethic and commitment of each and every member of this team. They want to win as bad as I do and I am proud to be their driver."

Along with his 83 career Sprint Cup starts, Smith has also competed in 102 Nationwide Series races and 23 Camping World Truck Series races. His first NASCAR start was in the truck series -- Sept. 21, 2002 -- at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va.

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Early Accident Costly for Smith at Bristol

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 21, 2010) -- Regan Smith found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and the result was a 30th-place finish in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

As Smith was getting comfortable on the high-banked, half-mile oval, his No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet was collected in a Turn 1, five-car accident on Lap 127 of 500. Smith's car suffered right-rear damage, forcing the Furniture Row Racing driver to make unscheduled pit stops to temporarily fix the problem.

The extra pit stops coupled with major aerodynamic damage to the No. 78 machine resulted in a long night of racing for Smith who finished the IRWIN Tools Night race 11 laps down.

"We were settling in and feeling good about our Farm American Chevy and then what usually happens at Bristol happened," stated Smith. "We knew going into the race that if we could avoid trouble, we would have a good chance of posting a decent finish. But our car took a good hit early and the problems just compounded from there."

The race winner was Kyle Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: David Reutimann, Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne.

The Sprint Cup Series will have next weekend off before resuming action Sunday night, Sept. 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 29th in Bristol

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 20, 2010) -- Driving the Farm American Chevrolet for Furniture Row Racing, Regan Smith will start 29th in Saturday's IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In Friday's Sprint Cup time trials, Smith covered the high-banked, half-mile oval in 15.822 seconds at 121.274 miles per hour.

"We obviously wanted more out of our lap, but going out third in the heat didn't help the cause," said Smith. "We've come from the back many times this year and plan on doing it again tomorrow night. We'll tweak the Farm American Chevy and give it all we have for our farmers and ranchers."

Grabbing the pole for the 500-lap race was Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart and David Reutimann.

Saturday night's race will be televised on ABC, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

###

Support Growing for FRR Farm American Program

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

As Support Grows For Furniture Row's Farm American Program,
Smith's No. 78 Chevy at Bristol Will Again Pay Tribute to U.S. Agriculture

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 16, 2010) --The paint scheme on Regan Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet at this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Bristol, Tenn. will once again pay tribute to the American farmer and rancher.

The No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet during Saturday's Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway is designed to promote the importance of U.S. agriculture, which is responsible for employing more than 22 million people in the American workforce.

The launch of Furniture Row Racing's Farm American program (www.farmamerican.com) in last month's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is being applauded by members of the American agriculture industry.

â€œAgriculture is the heart and soul; it is the ethics, moral and social values of this nation," said Dr. Alan Foutz, president, Colorado Farm Bureau. "People are four and five generations removed from the farm, and food for them is in the supermarket. Therefore they've lost connection with this important part of their daily life and where the food and fiber they depend on really comes from. ThatÊ¼s why I think it is particularly important the Farm American program exists. There is no doubt in my mind, after being part of the Farm American launch last month at Indianapolis, this program will succeed at reconnecting millions with America's farm families.â€

Paul Kindinger, executive director of the North American Equipment Dealer's Association, is equally passionate about Furniture Row Racing's Farm American program.

"The North American Equipment Dealers Association is proud to be partnered with Furniture Row Racing on the Farm American program," said Kindinger. "We see the potential to reach and engage millions of American consumers every week, and believe Farm American has what it takes to begin building a bridge with AmericaÊ¼s consumers. NAEDAÊ¼s
members and their employees are convinced Farm American will deliver a positive, well-deserved message about the real heroes of American agriculture.â€

Furniture Row Racing's objective for providing its support to the U.S. agriculture industry has been clearly stated by Barney Visser, team owner and executive officer of Furniture Row Companies.

â€œThe number of job losses in the American furniture industry due to unfair competitive practices by international governments has been devastating,â€ said Visser in last month's news release announcing the Farm American program. â€œTo see the same trends occurring in our food supply, leaving us subjected to possible interruptions and unequal standards is something we see as worth fighting for.

â€œI donâ€™t want America to fall asleep on this issue â€“ this is where America needs to come together. I believe in the free market system, but weâ€™re not free when we ask our farmers and ranchers to compete against foreign governments and potentially harmful standards that put us and our families at risk.â€

Smith, whose parents grew up on a farm in central New York, said the Farm American paint scheme is inspiring to him and his family.

"Farmers, ranchers and the entire agriculture community have been a major part of our family for many years so it's a truly special honor to drive the Farm American Chevrolet," said Smith. "We had a good run going in the Farm American car at Indy until a breakage occurred. I want to turn that around and come away with a solid outing at Bristol that our farmers and ranchers deserve."

###

Smith, Furniture Row Produce Strong Performance in Michigan

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

BROOKLYN, Mich (Aug. 15, 2010) -- Regan Smith flirted with a top-10 finish, but a brush with the concrete wall late in the race dropped him to a 21st-place result in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Michigan International Speedway. It was the 10th time this season that Smith has finished 21st or better.

Smith, who sent out a tweet prior to the race saying that he had a strong Furniture Row Chevrolet, was right on with his statement. He was positioned in the top-10 and as high as fourth as the 400-mile race was winding down.

"When we were running in the top-10 it was a combination of sound pit strategy and a fast Furniture Row Chevrolet," said Smith. "It was getting a little dicey out there and I scraped the wall which caused enough damage to affect the car's aerodynamic package. These cars are very sensitive and it doesn't take much to throw the aero off. But we managed to hang on and finish the race. We had a solid weekend of racing and it was a big step for our program."

A key moment for the Furniture Row team came when crew chief Pete Rondeau called for fuel only during a pit stop on Lap 156 of 200. The pit-road elapsed time saved by not taking fresh tires resulted in Smith vaulting from 17th to 10th in track position.

"Pete made a good call and it sure made it exciting for us," said Smith. "We gave it everything we had today and almost came away with the top-10 finish."

The Carfax 400 race winner was Kevin Harvick. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.

The next Sprint Cup race is Saturday night (Aug. 21) at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 20th in Michigan

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 13, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 20th in
Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

During Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the two-mile oval in 38.904 seconds at 185.071 miles per hour.

"I didn't get enough in turn one," said Smith, who was eighth fastest in the early afternoon practice session. "The rest of the lap was good, but I lost too much in the first turn. But overall this Furniture Row Racing crew has given me a good car. We were strong in race trim and I look for us to get stronger as the weekend progresses."

The pole winner was Kasey Kahne (187.183 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Sunday's CARFAX 400 will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT (noon ET).

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ALERT!!! Smith to Appear on Trackside (SPEED TV), Fri., Aug. 13

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith will be the first guest on Friday night's (Aug. 13) popular Trackside show on SPEED TV. The show starts at 5 p.m. MT (7 p.m. ET). Other guests on the one-hour show will be Jamie McMurray and heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield.

Smith, Furniture Row Racing Confident For Michigan Rebound

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 11, 2010) -- Regan Smith says he has some unfinished business to take care at this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). The Furniture Row Racing driver left the June race at the two-mile oval with an unsettling feeling.

After qualifying 23rd for the 400-mile race at MIS, Smith charged forward and was running in 15th-place when he and Marcos Ambrose got tangled on Lap 19 of 200. Though the incident resulted in heavy damage to Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet, he managed to battle back and finish a respectable 23rd.

"We have our notes from Michigan and feel that we can get the finish that escaped us in the June race," said the 26-year-old Smith. "I remember how strong our Furniture Row Chevy was at the beginning of the race and how much fun it was to pass on the wide track. We're looking for the same type of performance but with a much better finish."

Smith and the No. 78 Colorado-based team are coming off a strong performance but disappointing ending at last Sunday's Cup race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Smith was running in 17th place when the track bar mount broke with five laps remaining on the 2.45-mile road circuit. He finished 34th.

"We're just going to forget about last week and keep on plugging," said Smith. "It's pointless to look back and think about the what ifs. Our goal each week is to run a clean race -- no accidents, no pit road miscues, no mechanical malfunctions. We're confident that if we can achieve this goal we will get the deserved finishes."

Sunday's CARFAX 400 will be Smith's fourth Cup race at MIS. His 23rd-place finish in June was his best; in his two races at the Michigan track in 2008 he finished 32nd and 29th.

"I come to each race saying that this is going to be the start of a new beginning for our Furniture Row team," stated Smith. "We've made progress there's no question about that. We just want to see our progress rewarded with the proper finishes."

###

Heartbreaking Finish for Smith in Watkins Glen Homecoming

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 8, 2010) -- With five laps remaining in Sunday's Sprint Cup road race at Watkins Glen International it appeared that Regan Smith was on his way to another top-20 finish. But those late-race gremlins which have plagued the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team this season struck again while Smith was cruising in 17th place.

The issue this time was a broken right-side track bar mount, which ended Smith's day prematurely with a 34th-place finish. The adjustable track bar calibrates the car's suspension geometry.

"I don't know what to say," said a dejected Smith, a native of central New York. "We had a good car that possibly could have finished in the top 15. It's heartbreaking for everyone on the team because we have all worked so hard to get to another level. Anyone who has been watching us closely is aware that many of our results this season have not coincided with our strong performances. We know it's going to come, we just know it is."

In only his second career Cup race at Watkins Glen, the 26-year-old Smith started 27th and patiently picked his way through traffic during the 90-lap event on the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road circuit. When the fourth caution flew on Lap 67 he was running in 19th place and maintained his top-20 position until the track bar issue.

"I felt we had enough in the Furniture Row Chevy to give us one of our better finishes of the year," said crew chief Pete Rondeau. "The broken mount was a first and we'll go back to the shop and analyze why it did what it did. It was a good effort all around by this Furniture Row team."

The result did indeed spoil a homecoming of sorts for Smith, who started his racing career at age 4 in Cato, N.Y. -- 70 miles north of Watkins Glen.

"The finish makes it even more disappointing because of the number of family, friends and fans who were here today," said Smith. "However, we gave them a pretty good show for the first 85 laps."

The race winner was Juan Pablo Montoya, his second career Cup victory. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kurt Busch, Marcos Ambrose, AJ Allmendinger and Carl Edwards.

The next Cup race is Sunday (Aug. 15) at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

###

Smith to Start 27th in Watkins Glen

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 7, 2010) -- Regan Smith qualified 27th for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup road race at Watkins Glen International.

In Saturday morning's time trials at the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course, the central New York native and driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet recorded a lap time and speed of 72.419 seconds at 121.791 miles per hour.

"We were hoping for more, but we'll get after it again tomorrow and start to move forward when the green flag drops," said the 26-year-old Smith. "We were pretty good race in trim conditions during Friday's practices. We are encouraged each week, knowing that this is an improving Furniture Row Racing team."

The pole winner was Carl Edwards (124.432 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, AJ Allmendinger and Kurt Busch.

Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

###

Smith Pumped About New York Homecoming

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2010) -- Regan Smith returns to the area where his craft as a stock car driver started to take shape.

The 26-year-old NASCAR Sprint Cup driver for Furniture Row Racing grew up in Cato, N.Y., approximately 70 miles north of the Watkins Glen International road course, which will host Sunday's Sprint Cup race -- The Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen.

Smith's rise to NASCAR's top rung of racing started well before his teenage years by winning divisional, regional and state championships in a quarter-midget type of car (a microd) in the Syracuse, N.Y. area and throughout central New York.

Smith, who now lives outside of Charlotte, N.C. in the hub of NASCAR country, will be competing in his second career Cup race at Watkins Glen International. His first was in 2007 when he qualified a Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet 10th and finished 27th in a partially-damaged car. He also drove in two Nationwide Series races at the Glen, finishing 19th in 2005 and 23rd in 2006.

"This is the area where it all began for me and it's always exciting to come back to central New York," said Smith, the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year. "I still have roots here and want to do the best I can for family, friends and area fans who have been so supportive of my career."

Smith added, "Growing up in central New York and being a huge race fan I've always considered the Watkins Glen track as a historical landmark. It's a special feeling to race there and I just hope things work out well for our Furniture Row Racing team."

Smith is coming off a 21st-place finish in last Sunday's race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. His No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet has been a top-20 car and Smith feels the team is on the cusp of reaching the next level.

"We've had flashes of running in the top-15, but something always seems to happen that shoves us back a few positions," noted Smith. "We're on the right track and it's going to take time, but we've got it together."

Furniture Row Racing, which is based in Denver, Colo., is enjoying its best season since entering the NASCAR Cup world with nearly a full schedule in 2006. Smith has had six top-20 finishes in 2010 with a best result of 14th.

"It's gratifying to see the improvements we've made over the years as a team and as an organization," said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing's general manager. "We still have a ways to go, but we all know that we're heading in the right direction."

###

Smith to Conduct Autograph Session in Syracuse

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Aug. 2, 2010) -- NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and Cato, N.Y. native Regan Smith will conduct an autograph session in Syracuse on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 5-7 p.m. at the Oak Express & Bedroom Expressions store -- 2815 Erie Blvd. East (tel: 315-446-8461). The store is owned by Smith's primary sponsor Furniture Row.

Smith, who began his racing career at age 4 in the Cato area (25 miles west of Syracuse), will compete in Sunday's Sprint Cup road race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. He drives the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet.

Now a resident of the Charlotte, N.C. area, the 26-year-old Smith says he still has central New York roots.

"I have family and friends in the Cato area and it's always nice to come back to where I started my career," stated Smith, the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year. "Hopefully the autograph session will kick off a good weekend for our Furniture Row Racing team."

Fans attending the autograph session will receive an 8 x 10 colored poster card of Smith.

###

Smith Finishes 21st in Pocono

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LONG POND, Pa. (Aug. 1, 2010) -- Despite balancing issues with his Furniture Row Chevrolet, Regan Smith managed to pull off a 21st-place finish in Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

Smith, who started the 500-mile event from the 34th position, made headway early on the 2.5-mile track as he was running in the low to mid 20s by Lap 50 of 200. He continued to maintain a steady pace, and when the final caution flew on Lap 166, he was in 16th place.

Following a 30-minute red flag to clean up debris on the track surface, Furniture Row crew chief Pete Rondeau was faced with a difficult decision to take two or four tires on the final pit stop. He opted for four because of the balance problem with Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet.

"Hindsight is always 20-20, but it was one of those calls that could have gone either way," stated Rondeau. "Unfortunately it didn't go in our favor. Considering the number of laps we ran under caution before the race was restarted (on Lap 179), two tires might have been the right call. With four tires, we needed more green-flag laps at the end. But overall we gave it a good fight and Regan drove a strong race."

What hurt Smith's chances after the four-tire call was that a light drizzle started to fall resulting in a number of yellow flag laps to help dry the track.

"That brief drizzle really cost us because of the laps we ran under caution," said Smith. "We had four fresh tires and felt we were in position to make a move, or at worst stay 16th. But with fewer green flag laps than we anticipated, our chances of getting back in the teens diminished. We did have some good green-flag runs today, but needed one more long one at the end."

The race winner was Greg Biffle, who gave Roush Fenway Racing its first win of the season. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin.

The Sprint Cup Series heads to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International Sunday (Aug. 8) for the second and final road race of the season.

###

Smith Qualifies 34th in Pocono

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LONG POND, Pa. (July 30, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 34th in Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup race.

In Friday's time trials at Pocono Raceway, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the 2.5-mile triangular track in 53.896 seconds at 166.968 miles per hour.

"I got way too loose coming out of Turn 3," said Smith. "It's not the ideal starting position, but we've battled from the back many times this year. I know we can do it again on Sunday. "

Claiming the pole was Tony Stewart (171.593 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Juan Pablo Montoya, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

###

No Looking Back for Smith, Focus on Pocono

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (July 28, 2010) -- If he wanted to, Regan Smith could probably give a lengthy dissertation about â€œwould've-should've-could'vesâ€ in regards to the season's first 20 Sprint Cup races. But the chances are slim to none for the Furniture Row Racing driver to rehash the many unfortunate incidents which have prevented the Colorado-based team from showing its full potential.

"It is what it is and there is no sense in looking back -- we need to look forward especially to Sunday's race at Pocono," said Smith. "We know we have the talent to start a string of solid finishes. But before we can achieve a positive streak, we need to get rid of the gremlins."

Those gremlins resurfaced again in last Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when smoke began to fill the cockpit of Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet on Lap 100 of 160. The culprit was a fluid leak which caused the rear-end gear to smolder.

"We ran as high as 14th at Indy and were looking for a top-15 or better finish," recalled Smith. "We've had too many of these "what if" races. It's time for a turnaround."

Smith's first shot at beginning a positive streak in his Furniture Row Chevrolet would be Sunday at the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. In the June race at the 2.5-mile triangular track, Smith posted an 18th-place finish.

When asked earlier in the season about his thoughts on Pocono, Smith said, "Pocono is a unique track with three different turns. There's always going to be that one turn that will throw a wrinkle into the car setup. But Pocono is a long race that rewards patience and hitting the right marks."

He added, "Along with overcoming the gremlin issue, we also need to improve on our qualifying efforts. When you start past mid pack you put yourself in an early hole. At some tracks where passing is a problem then qualifying becomes even more important. We've talked about this issue and I look for our No. 78 car to start picking up the pace in qualifying."

Speaking of time trials, Smith's best career qualifying effort of fourth was achieved three times, including once at Pocono Raceway in June 2008.

"Right now we would take a starting position of fourth," noted the 26-year-old Smith. "We have the horsepower. It's just a matter of making it all come together when it counts. The good news for all of us at Furniture Row Racing is that we can't wait to get back to the track because we all feel that we're close to that breakout race."

###

Smith's Strong Performance Turns to Smoke

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (July 25, 2010) -- For the first 100 laps in Sunday's Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Regan Smith was cruising in the top-20.

But as he was about to complete the 101st lap the Furniture Row Racing driver reported that smoke was filling the cockpit of his No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet. The culprit was a burned rear-end gear due to leaky fluid and the end result was a 33rd-place finish.

"Everything was going so smoothly," said Smith. "But then I started to see that ugly white smoke and I knew then we were in trouble. I was hoping it was something minor and it would eventually burn off, but that wasn't the case. We were making progress all weekend and truly felt we had the car to give us our best finish of the season."

Smith, who started 22nd, ran as high as 14th and maintained a steady pace on the 2.5-mile oval until he was called into the garage to make a rear-end change to his No. 78 machine. The Furniture Row crew worked valiantly under severe heat conditions to replace the rear-end, which allowed Smith to return to action and finish the race (25 laps down).

Mark McArdle, the team's managing director of competition, had mixed feelings with the outcome.

"Unfortunately we're not certain at this point what caused us to lose rear-end fluid," said McArdle. "It took what should have been a certain top-15 finish from the look of the results and turned it into a tough day. The performance of the No. 78 Farm American car was strong, the driver did a great job, the pit crew was right on and there were a lot of positive things. Unfortunately the result wasn't one of them."

Smith said the result was even more disappointing because he was driving a car that was paying tribute to the American farmer and rancher.

"We really wanted a good result today for our farmers and ranchers," stated Smith. "But we gave it a good effort and we will bounce back. No one knows better about overcoming setbacks than our nation's farmers and ranchers."

The race winner was Jamie McMurray, who became the third driver in NASCAR history to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart.

The next Cup race is Sunday (Aug. 1) -- the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

###

Smith Qualifies 22nd for Brickyard 400

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (July 24, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 22nd in Sunday's Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In Saturday morning's qualifying session, Smith's No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet toured the historic 2.5-mile oval in 49.987 seconds at 180.047 miles per hour.

What handicapped Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team was a late draw, which is usually good for a late-afternoon qualifying session but not for one in mid-morning.

"With the incredible heat here we all wanted an early draw when it was a little cooler in the morning," explained Smith. "But unfortunately we drew the 35th-place spot. But considering when we took our qualifying laps our overall effort in the Farm American Chevrolet was respectable. We were also pleased with how our car performed in race-trim conditions during yesterday's practice."

The pole winner was Juan Pablo Montoya (182.278 mph). Rounding out the top-five order were: Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman.

Sunday's race will be televised on ESPN, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

###

Indy High is Same 30 Years Later for McArdle

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Furniture Row Racing's competition director has enjoyed an envious history of success at IMS

DENVER, Colo. (July 21, 2010) -- Mark McArdle says he still feels a buzz when he drives through the tunnel at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). As an engine specialist, his record at the internationally-famed venue includes three Indy 500 victories and a close working relationship with some of the top drivers to ever compete at the 2.5-mile oval.

McArdle, who is now the managing director of competition for the Denver, Colo-based Furniture Row Racing Sprint Cup team and driver Regan Smith, is feeling the same high for this weekend's Brickyard 400 as he did for his first Indianapolis 500 in 1979 when he worked as a mechanic for driver Bill Vukovich Jr.

"This is the reason I got into professional motorsports -- to have the opportunity to drive through that tunnel," said McArdle. "It's hallowed grounds to me and I have the utmost respect for every inch of the facility and all the tradition that goes with it. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is to motorsports what St. Andrews is to golf."

The list of Indy drivers who McArdle worked closely with since 1979 reads like a Who's Who in motorsports. Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr., Tom Sneva, Michael Andretti, Danny Sullivan, Paul Tracy and Bobby Rahal are some of the blue chip drivers with whom McArdle has had an association.

"A privilege and honor to have had the opportunity to work with these drivers who not only brought the sport to a new level, but also are responsible for creating a strong national and international awareness for American auto racing."

McArdle served as the engine specialist for Roger Penske's Indy car teams from 1989-1993. During those Penske years, he saw two of the team drivers capture the big prize with Mears winning the 1991 Indy 500 and Fittipaldi winning the 500 two years later.

A year after Fittipaldi's victory, McArdle went to work for Ilmor Engineering and was the engine builder for the Mercedes-Benz pushrod engine project that powered Al Unser Jr. to the Indy 500 victory in 1994.

"I am well aware of how fortunate I have been to be surrounded by talent and dedication," noted the 52-year-old McArdle. "Being part of three Indianapolis 500 victories is more than I ever bargained for when I started as a junior mechanic. But once you kiss the bricks, you want to go back again and relive that special moment. I would love to do it again."

For the record McArdle had mixed feelings when he first heard in 1993 that stock cars would compete at IMS the following year.

"I kept on saying this is our house and what are they (stock cars) doing here," recalled McArdle.

But five years after the inaugural Brickyard 400 (1994), stock car racing came calling for McArdle, who joined Cal Wells' PPI Motorsports Cup team in 1999. After two years at PPI, he became general manager of Yates Racing Engines from the fall of 2001 to the spring of 2003. He joined Evernham Motorsports (now Richard Petty Motorsports) in May 2003 where he directed the team's engine program for more than six years.

McArdle was hired by Furniture Row Racing at the end of the 2009 season to lead the competition side of the program. The results during the first half of the season have trended upwards for the young Furniture Row organization with Smith driving the No. 78 Chevrolet to six top-20 finishes.

"We're six months into a three-year process and I feel we're right on track," said McArdle, a native of La Crosse, Wis. "We've seen nothing but improvement by the team and I see this trend continuing in the right direction. What is appealing about the Furniture Row organization is the teamâ€™s unyielding commitment to build on an already-solid foundation.â€

Smith, the 2008 Sprint Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year, feels that McArdle's experience and organizational skills have been a huge benefit to Furniture Row Racing.

"Mark is a great organizer and has a clear vision and a clear path to where he wants to take this team," said Smith. "He's been with winners and knows what it takes to be successful. When the leader has a plan then we all have a plan. Mark is a big asset to our team."

###

Smith's Indy Paint Scheme to Promote Cause of Protecting U.S. Food Supply

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (July 20, 2010) â€“ Regan Smithâ€™s Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet will pay tribute to the American farmer and rancher in Sundayâ€™s Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The paint scheme and program will promote the importance of U.S. agriculture, which employs directly and indirectly more than 22 million people in the American workforce.

Known as the No. 78 Farm American Chevrolet, the multicolored car of green, yellow, blue and white will depict farm life on the hood along with the program theme on the rear quarter panel of 'Cultivating the Future'.

Barney Visser, team owner and chief executive officer of Furniture Row Companies, compares what has happened in the furniture industry to the threats facing the American farmer and rancher.

â€œThe number of job losses in the American furniture industry due to unfair competitive practices by international governments has been devastating,â€ stated Visser. â€œTo see the same trends occurring in our food supply, leaving us subjected to possible interruptions and unequal standards is something we see as worth fighting for.

â€œI donâ€™t want America to fall asleep on this issue â€“ this is where America needs to come together. I believe in the free market system, but weâ€™re not free when we ask our farmers and ranchers to compete against foreign governments and potentially harmful standards that put us and our families at risk.â€

The United Soybean Board (USB) is the only other sponsor to jump into a partnership with the Farm American car at this time. Furniture Row Racing is hoping other suppliers and industry organizations will help share in the support for this team. Until then, Furniture Row Companies will be underwriting a majority of the Farm American sponsorship at Indianapolis and also at two additional Sprint Cup races â€“ Aug. 21 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and Oct. 10 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

"The United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff applaud Furniture Row Racing's efforts to help protect farmers, ranchers and our food supply," said USB Director Keith Dunn, a soybean farmer from Yale, Va. "By partnering with the Farm American car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- the heart of the soybean belt -- we can inform racing fans of the major role U.S. soy and other U.S. agricultural products play in helping provide our nation's families with a safe, sustainable and reliable supply of food."

Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing, is equally passionate about the Farm American program.

â€œWho better than NASCAR and its legion of fans to advocate for the American farmer and rancher,â€ said Garone. â€œWith so many teams based in North Carolina, weâ€™ve seen a domestic furniture industry crumble right underneath us â€“ so we understand the urgency of protecting a valuable industry while we still can.â€

For Smith, driving the Farm American car is both a personal and professional honor.

"Since my mother and father both grew up on a farm (in upstate New York), it's going to be an honor to drive a car that showcases the farm community and the worldwide contributions the American farmer makes," stated Smith, the 2008 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year. "The American farmer/rancher and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are two icons and I can't wait to drive the Farm American Chevrolet in the Brickyard 400. With the farm community behind Furniture Row Racing, our fan base should grow even more."

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Rebound with 20th-Place Finish at Chicagoland Speedway

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

JOLIET, Ill. (July 10, 2010) -- After starting at the rear of the field (41st), Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team tenaciously battled back to post a 20th-place finish in Saturday night's LifeLock.com 400 Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway.

When the first caution waved on Lap 39 of 267 Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet had already gained 10 positions on the 1.5-mile oval. Smith patiently bided his time as the race wore on and moved into the top-20 on Lap 190.

"There were a lot of long faces yesterday after we qualified 41st," said Smith, who tied Matt Kenseth for the biggest improvement of 21 positions from start to finish. "But tonight was different -- we made a nice recovery to finish 20th. We made a lot of changes overnight and looked at everything. I also looked at everything that I was doing and watched last year's race about 25 times. We're not overly happy with the result, but considering the tough times we had the past three weeks we are feeling a lot more upbeat."

Speaking of the last three weeks -- Sonoma, New Hampshire and Daytona -- Smith endured two accidents, a fractured wrist and finishes of 38, 33 and 33.

"We're back to where we belong and we can once again start focusing on getting to the next level," said crew chief Pete Rondeau. "It was really gratifying to see the fight we had tonight after yesterday's disappointment. Regan did a great job wheeling the Furniture Row Chevy tonight. Our pit crew also did a good job. It was a great team effort overall."

The Chicagoland result was the sixth top-20 finish of the season for Smith and the Furniture Row team.

The race winner was David Reutimann. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray.

The Sprint Cup circuit will have next weekend off and resume action Sunday, July 25 in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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Smith's Qualifying Report -- Chicagoland Speedway

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

JOLIET, Ill. (July 9, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 41st in Saturday night's LifeLock.com 400 Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway.

In Friday's late afternoon qualifying session, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.5-mile oval in 30.623 seconds at 178.436 miles per hour.

"We have some catching up to do, but we'll get there," said Smith. "The plan is to patiently move forward as soon as the green flag drops."

The pole winner was Jamie McMurray (183.542 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and Sam Hornish Jr.

Saturday night's 400-mile race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 4:30 p.m. MT.

Smith: 'Chicagoland is Our Kind of Track'

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (July 7, 2010) -- There was a time when Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team weren't so keen about the cookie-cutter tracks -- the mile-in-a-half and two-mile ovals -- which dominate the NASCAR Sprint Cup 36-race schedule.

But that former cookie-cutter attitude has taken an almost 180-degree turn for Smith, who has only good thoughts about Saturday night's race at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., which begins the second half of the season.

"After what we've been through the past three races and knowing what we've accomplished at the so-called cookie-cutter tracks this year, why wouldn't I look forward to Chicagoland?," asked Smith. "The last three weeks have been rough, very rough for our Furniture Row team. We need to get back to where we should be with our No. 78 Chevrolet."

The last three races -- at a road course (Sonoma, Calif.), a one-mile track (Loudon, N.H.) and a superspeedway (Daytona, Fla.) -- produced finishes of 38, 33 and 33 respectively for Smith, who was involved in multicar accidents in both Sonoma and Daytona.

Smith's average finish of 36.3 in the last three races is a far cry from his 19.5 average in six races at either a mile-in-a-half or two-mile oval. His finishes at the cookie-cutter tracks so far in 2010 have been: 19 (Fontana, Calif.), 21 (Las Vegas), 14 (Atlanta), 21 (Fort Worth, Texas), 19 (Charlotte) and 23 (Brooklyn, Mich.).

"We've had decent results at the cookie cutters, but looking back at some of those races we had opportunities for much
better finishes," noted Smith. "I haven't raced a lot at Chicagoland, but I like the track. It has a few quirks as any track does. I've said many times that we are close to making some noise. I still feel that way and it could be this weekend since Chicagoland is our kind of track."

Saturday night's LifeLock.com 400 will be Smith's fifth appearance at Chicagoland Speedway and his second in the Sprint Cup Series. His only Cup race at Chicagoland was in 2008 when he finished 34th while driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. He has also competed in three Nationwide Series races at Chicagoland.

Smith's best finish during the first half of the 2010 season was 14th at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.

"We've made some big gains since last year," said Smith. "But we are not satisfied by any means. I look for another big gain for our Furniture Row team during the second half of the season."

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Smith Collected in 19-Car Melee at Daytona

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 4, 2010) -- Regan Smith's superspeedway woes continue.

The Furniture Row Racing driver was forced to retire from Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway after being collected in a 19-car wreck with 12 laps remaining. He was credited with a 33rd-place finish in the Coke Zero 400, which started nearly two hours late due to rain and ended well past midnight.

Smith was not injured in the accident, but his car suffered major damage. "It's a mess, one big mess," said crew chief Pete Rondeau about the condition of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

When the "Big One" occurred in Turn 3 at the 2.5-mile oval Smith was running in 20th-place and felt he was in good position to move forward in the closing laps. But for the fourth straight time at a superspeedway event (Daytona and Talladega), Smith was not able to finish the race. He was involved in an early accident in February's Daytona 500 and suffered an engine failure at the last two Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway races (November 2009 and April 2010).

"We'll finish one of these superspeedway races eventually," said Smith, who did post a 12th-place result a year ago in Daytona. "Things happened pretty quickly out there. Somebody in front of the pack had a problem and then it was nothing but smoking cars by the time most of us got there. It was just a typical Daytona/Talladega wreck. You hope you miss it, and if you don't, you go on to the next one. It all comes down to racing luck at these two superspeedway tracks. And we're definitely due for a change of luck."

The race winner was Kevin Harvick. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton.

The next Sprint Cup race is Saturday night (July 10) at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

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Sprint Cup Qualifying Washed Out in Daytona

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 2, 2010) -- Regan Smith was one of 12 drivers who made a qualifying run Friday before NASCAR officials were forced to cancel the time trial session due to a persistent rain shower at Daytona International Speedway.

The 43-car starting field for Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup race will be set according to owner points.

Though Smith was sixth fastest among the 12 drivers who completed their qualifying laps, he will start 31st, based on Furniture Row Racing's owner points position.

"We knew before qualifying there was a better than a 50-50 chance that rain would cancel the session," said Smith, who finished 12th at the Daytona summer race last year. "We made a pretty good qualifying lap in our Furniture Row Chevrolet and felt our speed (187.091 mph) would have put us in the top-20. The good news for us is that we had a great practice yesterday in race trim and know that we have the potential for a good result in Saturday night's race."

Points leader Kevin Harvick will start from the pole. Rounding out the top-five starters in order will be Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon.

Saturday night's 160-lap, 400-mile race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 5:30 p.m. MT.

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Smith Battles Adversity in New Hampshire

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LOUDON, N.H. (June 27, 2010) -- Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith battled adversity throughout Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, finishing 33rd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Starting 18th, Smith encountered early trouble when his No. 78 Chevrolet suffered a broken right-front wheel following the first pit stop on Lap 40 of 301.

"We could barely keep up with speed and were never able to recover because of the broken right-front wheel," said Smith, who was driving with a custom-fitted splint for a fractured left wrist. "The car had a bad vibration and we did our best to fight back. We needed more cautions to make adjustments to the car. But it was pretty much a caution-free race until the end. I think we went approximately 200 laps from the first to second caution."

If a broken wheel and fractured wrist weren't enough to contend with for the 26-year-old Smith, the Furniture Row Chevrolet suffered a broken transmission late in the race as it limped to the finish line at the 1.058-mile oval.

"When things go bad you just gut it out and try to get the most out of what you have," said crew chief Pete Rondeau. "And that's exactly what Regan did. He hung in there and gave us a valiant effort under tough conditions. We'll be back on the track in a few days and look forward to showcasing our superspeedway potential in Daytona on Saturday night."

The race winner was Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick.

The next Cup race is Saturday night (July 3) -- the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

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Smith Breaks Wrist; Fitted with Custom-Molded Splint

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LOUDON, N.H. (June 25, 2010) -- Due to suffering a fractured left wrist in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Sonoma, Calif., Regan Smith has been fitted with a custom-molded splint for this weekend's LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, fractured his scaphoid bone (located at base of thumb) when he was involved in a multicar accident at Infineon Raceway on Lap 67 of 110.

The 26-year-old Smith is being treated for the injury at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte.

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Oval Comfort Zone Boosts Smith's Spirits

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (June 23, 2010) -- Regan Smith is happy about returning to a more familiar environment as he and the Furniture Row Racing team continue their progression in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in this weekend's LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Last week in Sonoma, Calif. Smith was competing in his first road race in nearly three years and both the performance and end result at Infineon Raceway left him with a yearning for oval track racing. While running in the low 30s, Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet took a major hit in a multicar accident on Lap 67 of 110. Smith left the Northern California track with a 38th-place finish.

"Road racing can be fun except when you get banged up like we did in Sonoma," said Smith. "To be honest I am really looking forward to New Hampshire and oval-track racing. We've been on an improvement roll lately and see no reason why it can't continue in New Hampshire."

Smith has notched five top-25s and three top-20s in the last five oval races with his best finish of 17 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in early May. The performances have led the Furniture Row Racing team to reset its goal.

"We used to say a top-20 would meet our goal," offered Smith. "But based on how we have run since Darlington, that goal is now a top-15 for each race. It is definitely a realistic goal and we just need to ramp it up. Those last five races on ovals we had a shot for a top-15 in at least three of them. What we've been accomplishing makes it much more fun to come to the racetrack every weekend. I like the New Hampshire track and I know my crew chief (Pete Rondeau) feels the same way. He probably even has a stronger liking than I do."

Smith is right about his crew chief's feelings toward the "Magic Mile" in Loudon, N.H. Rondeau is from Saco, Maine and has raced many times at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in what was formerly called the Busch North Series.

"For me it's always nice to get back to the New England area and race at the New Hampshire track," said Rondeau. "Being from the area doesn't give us an advantage but if I can help Regan find a way to roll through the corners with more speed in Sunday's race then that would be great. This entire Furniture Row team is feeling upbeat about what we've accomplished and about the potential for the future."

Smith has competed in only five Cup races at New Hampshire -- two in each 2007 and 2008 and one last year. His best finish was 23rd in September 2008.

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Accident Spoils Smith's Road Course Run at Infineon Raceway

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

SONOMA, Calif. (June 20, 2010) -- A multicar accident which involved Regan Smith left the Furniture Row Racing driver with a 38th-place finish in Sunday's Toyota/SaveMart 350k road race at Infineon Raceway.

Smith, who was competing in his first road race in nearly three years, was running in the low 30s when he got collected in the five-car pile-up on Lap 67, which forced NASCAR to red flag the race for more than 20 minutes. Other drivers also collected in the frontstretch melee were Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Sam Hornish Jr. and Max Papis.

Smith's No. 78 machine suffered heavy damage, forcing the Furniture Row crew to make major repairs. Smith did return to action and completed 86 of the 110 laps at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road circuit.

"Wrong place, wrong time," said a disappointed Smith. "I had no place to go and got wrecked pretty good. Up until that point we were being patient and felt we had a good strategy for the remainder of the race to get a decent finish. But on these road courses it can get crowded, and seeing multicar accidents is quite common. But I still look forward to the next road race (Aug. 8) at Watkins Glen International."

The race winner at Infineon was Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Robby Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (June 27) at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

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Smith Qualifies 31st in Sonoma

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

SONOMA, Calif. (June 18, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 31st in Sunday's Sprint Cup race here at Infineon Raceway. The event -- the Toyota/SaveMart 350k -- will be the first of two scheduled road races of the season.

In Friday's time trials at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile circuit, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet recorded a lap time and speed of 77.690 seconds at 92.213 miles per hour.

"We had a top-15 run going until I got a little sideways on the final two turns," said Smith, who is competing in his first road race in nearly three years. "We had a solid practice earlier in the day and we have two more (practice) sessions tomorrow to get dialed in for Sunday. It's been a while since I've driven on a road course, but I felt good about how our Furniture Row Chevrolet was able to maneuver through the corners. Road racing is a lot of fun and I look forward to Sunday's race."

The pole winner was Kasey Kahne (93.893 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon.

Sunday's 110-lap race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at noon MT.

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Smith Returns to Road Racing After Three-Year Absence

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (June 16, 2010) -- In a few days, Regan Smith will do something he hasn't done in nearly three years. He will get to make right-hand turns in a NASCAR race.

Sunday's event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. will be Smith's third career Sprint Cup road race and his first since August 2007 when he competed at NASCAR's other road racing venue -- Watkins Glen International in upstate New York. Outside of that Watkins Glen race, his only other Cup road race was at Infineon in June 2007.

Smith says he has some mixed feelings about taking his driving talents to Infineon Raceway's tight and complex 10-turn, 1.99 mile road circuit, which has seven right-hand and three left-hand turns.

"The little amount of road racing that I have been able to do has been both fun and frustrating," offered a candid Smith. "I remember when regular Cup drivers would not have many kind words to say about the two road races each year. But the more they raced on the road circuits, the better they liked it, and the better they drove. Right now, I am some place in the middle. I like the challenge of the road races -- I grew up karting. But in reality I do lack seat time at the Cup level."

In Smith's last Cup road race (Watkins Glen 2007) -- he posted an impressive qualifying lap by recording the 10th fastest speed. He finished the race 37th with a damaged race car. In his debut Cup road race -- June 2007 at Infineon -- he qualified 26th and finished 30th.

To reacquaint himself with the demanding twist and turns of Infineon Raceway, Smith spent a day at the track back in April testing a late model stock car and getting road course driving tips from veteran instructor Chris Cook.

"That was a productive session I had with Chris Cook," stated Smith. "I needed to refresh my memory about Infineon because there are so many nuances to the different corners. I really don't know what to expect this weekend. We've had some good runs lately and I am confident that we'll have a dialed-in driver and a dialed-in Furniture Row Chevrolet."

Before last week's race in Michigan, Smith scored three top 20s in the previous four races. He was on his way to another top-20 finish in Michigan but an early accident curtailed his performance for the remainder of the race. He finished 23rd.

"Not too long ago our goal was a top 20," noted Smith. "Right now that goal has changed to top 15s."

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Smith's Solid Run Slowed with Early Incident in Michigan Race

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 13, 2010) -- Regan Smith finished 23rd in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, but had it not been for an early incident, the Furniture Row Racing team appeared to have a car capable of a top-15 or better result at Michigan International Speedway.

Smith, who started 23rd, moved forward as soon as the green flag dropped to start the 200-lap, 400-mile race. He was running in 15th place when he made contact with the No. 47 car of Marcos Ambrose on Lap 19, which brought out the first caution of the race.

Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet suffered right-front damage and the team was forced to take extra time on ensuing pit stops to band aid the problem.

"We fought hard after that early incident," said crew chief Pete Rondeau. "It was another good solid run -- our third one in a row. Regan was comfortable and happy with the car most of the day. Everybody is doing a good job here."

Smith was indeed happy with the performance of his Furniture Row Chevrolet, but wasn't happy about driving an injured car for all but 19 laps on the two-mile oval.

"We had a really good race car all weekend," said Smith. "The way we were running early I felt this could be a special day. The Furniture Row Chevrolet was that good. I am not 100 percent sure what happened in the incident with Marcos (Ambrose). It definitely hurt us from reaching our goal of a top-15 finish."

Smith's Chevrolet was also the first car a lap down. "We needed one more caution to get back on the lead lap and be in position to gain in track position," stated Smith. "We had the car that could pass even though it was damaged. The front-end was torn up pretty good."

The race winner in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Sprint Cup race was Denny Hamlin -- his second straight win. Rounding out the top five in order were: Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart.

The next race in the Sprint Cup event will be on a road course -- Sunday (June 20) at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

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Smith Qualifies 23rd in Michigan

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 11, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 23rd in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the two-mile track in Friday's time trials in 38.381 seconds at 187.593 miles per hour.

"We had a good practice today and feel that we can continue our recent momentum," said Smith. "We were looking for a better qualifying lap, but as it turned out it was more advantageous to go out early rather than late. We were initially excited about out 34th-place qualifying draw, but as I said, it didn't play in our favor. Our Furniture Row Chevrolet will ready come Sunday."

The pole winner was Kurt Busch (189.984). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jamie McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Jeff Burton.

Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 will be televised on TNT, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Eyeing More Improvement

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (June 9, 2010) -- Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team are on an encouraging roll as the Colorado-based team heads east for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

"Though we're not content with our recent performances, I feel we're on a positive run and only see us getting better as the season wears on," said Smith, who has produced three top-20 finishes in the last four races.

The current top-20 streak started with a 17th-place result at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in early May and continued with finishes of 19th in Charlotte (May 30) and 18th last week at Pocono.

In two of those three races Smith felt his team had the potential for its first top-10 finish.

"I thought we had the package for a top-10 in Darlington and Pocono," stated Smith. "The good news is that we know that top 10s are now realistic goals for our Furniture Row team. Before it was top 20s, now it's top 10s. We hear so many times that you need to take baby steps in this business. Well, we are doing that, but we're also anxious to get to that next level."

Smith's crew chief Pete Rondeau is a veteran of the NASCAR wars and experience tells him to keep the emotions in check.

"We're picking away and it's working," said Rondeau, who took over the team's crew chief reigns prior to the May 30th Charlotte race. "There's no need to get excited and no need to get down. As long as you keep on making progress then you're heading in the right direction."

Smith and his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet are looking to keep on heading in that "right" direction in Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan's 2-mile oval.

"I haven't had a lot of experience at Michigan, but it's fast and you can pass there. I think everyone likes those two characteristics of a race track -- I know I do," noted Smith, who has two starts in the Cup series at Michigan -- both coming in the 2008 season. "This track is similar to California and we had an outstanding run going there until I made a mistake on pit road late in the race."

Smith is referring to how he was running in the top-10 late in the California race (Feb. 21) when he slid too far in his pit box, which cost him valuable track position. He finished 19th.

"California and Michigan are both two-mile tracks and hopefully we'll be able to transfer our California data and make it work again this weekend," explained Smith.

Smith's recent results have also resulted in a climb in the Sprint Cup driver point standings. He gained three positions -- to 28 -- following Sunday's race in Pocono.

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Smith Runs Strong, Finishes 18th in Pocono

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LONG POND, Pa. (June 6, 2010) -- Regan Smith finished 18th in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway, his third top-20 finish in the last four races. He finished 19th last week in Charlotte and 17th four weeks ago in Darlington S.C.

Though the 18th-place result was a respectable result, there was some disappointment in the Furniture Row camp due to a late hit that took Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet out of top-10 contention in the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500.

Smith, who started 24th, was running in the top-10 late in the 204-lap overtime race, thanks to a well-calculated pit and fuel strategy. But when the race was restarted with fewer than 20 laps remaining, Smith got hit from behind, causing suspension damage to his car.

"We had a good run going but that late hit slowed us down," stated Smith. "We just didn't have the same kind of power with our Furniture Row Chevy. We all did a good job today, but saw a good opportunity slip away due to a typical late-race aggressive restart. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But looking at the big picture we are making some really positive gains. It's been fun."

Smith gained three spots in the driver point standings and currently sits in 28th-place.

"If we keep running like we have been those top 10s will come and our position in the standings will continue to improve," said Smith. "Improving each week is what it's all about."

The race winner was Denny Hamlin. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (June 13) at Michigan International Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 24th in Pocono

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

LONG POND, Pa. (June 4, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 24th in Sunday's Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

In Friday's time trials at the three-turn, 2.5-mile track, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet recorded a lap time and speed of 53.739 seconds at 167.476 miles per hour.

"We had a good practice in race trim earlier in the day and I am feeling upbeat about Sunday's race," stated Smith, who finished 19th in Charlotte last week. "We continue to make progress as a team and I see no reason why we can't keep up the positive trend."

The pole winner was Kyle Busch (169.485 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin.

Sunday's race will be televised on TNT, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Smith Qualifies 24th in Pocono

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Smith's Goal is to Close the Deal, Starting at Pocono

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (June 2, 2010) -- Regan Smith is rarely satisfied, thanks to a competitive fire that started back when he was 4-years-old while racing quarter-midget type of cars in upstate New York. That burning desire to excel has increased at every level of competition Smith has raced at, including his current status as the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet in the premiere NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The affable Smith will respectfully acknowledge compliments for his recent performances, but deep inside he wants better and wants more of being better.

"I agree we're improving, but at some point we need to capitalize on our strong performances and not give up spots late in the race," offered Smith, the 2008 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year. "This is a team deal and we all -- including myself -- need to avoid costly hiccups at the end of the race. I understand this is a maturation process with a new team, but I hate it when we don't have a finish that equals our performance level."

Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway was a prime example of what Smith is talking about. His Furniture Row Chevy was consistent throughout the marathon race and it appeared that it was going to have a top-12 to top-15 finish. But while running in 16th place a miscue on the final pit stop with 22 laps remaining cost the No. 78 team the opportunity to advance. Smith settled with a 19th-place finish.

"I guess when you look at the big picture we had a pretty good day in Charlotte which has us feeling upbeat for this weekend's race in Pocono," added Smith.

The 2.5-mile, three-turn Pocono (Pa.) Raceway will be the site of Sunday's Gillett Fusion ProGlide 500 Sprint Cup race. Smith is looking for another solid performance with direction from Pete Rondeau, who took over the team's crew chief reigns the week leading up to the Charlotte race.

"Pocono is a unique race with three different turns," stated Smith. "There's always going to be that one turn that will throw a wrinkle into the car setup. But Pocono is a long race that rewards patience and hitting the right marks."

Smith has three straight top-25 finishes and two top-20s in the last three races. He finished 17th three weeks ago in Darlington, S.C. and was 24th in Dover (May 16).

"We want those top 20s to eventually turn into top 10s," said Smith. "Then I will start feeling a little more satisfied, but most likely not totally satisfied."

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Smith Finishes 19th in Charlotte

Sun, 30 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 30, 2010) -- A steady performance by Regan Smith gave the Furniture Row Racing driver a solid 19th-place finish in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

It was the debut race as crew chief for Pete Rondeau, who was pleased with the overall performance of the No. 78 team.

"It was a good start and a good team effort," said Rondeau. "We have something to build as we keep on communicating. Regan did a good job and we're all feeling positive."

Smith, who started 32nd, moved forward rather quickly and ran a good portion of the 400-lap, 600-mile race in the mid to high teens. It was the second top-20 result in the last three point races for the Denver, Colo.-based team. Smith finished 17th in Darlington, S.C. three week ago.

"The Furniture Row Chevy was strong tonight," said Smith. "We were consistent for most of the race. I thought we had a better car than 19th, but the steady performance was encouraging. Pete (Rondeau) made good calls in his first race as crew chief. If we only could have seen some clean air at the end, I am pretty sure our car would have had a lot better finish. The No. 78 Chevy definitely had potential tonight. We're patiently getting to a new level of performance."

The winner in NASCAR's longest race was Kurt Busch, who also won last week's All-Star event at Charlotte. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin and David Reutimann.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (June 6) at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

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Bad Draw Shoves Smith to 32nd Starting Spot in Charlotte

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 27, 2010) -- The qualifying draw didn't play into Regan Smith's favor during Thursday night's time trials at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A fairly early draw when track temperatures were at their hottest hindered Smith's lap-time performance as he qualified 32nd for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600.

Smith's Furniture Row Chevy was 12th fastest in practice, and it even improved three tenths of a second in the time trials. But when the track temperatures cooled down for the later-draw cars, Smith's qualifying position kept slipping on the leader board.

"Not long after we qualified the track temps dropped nearly 20 degrees," said Smith, whose draw was 16th out of 47 cars. "We were pleased with our practice and felt we had a good shot at a decent starting spot for Sunday's race. But this is the longest race of the year and we'll have plenty of time to move forward. We have two practices on Saturday to get our Furniture Row Chevy dialed in."

Smith covered the 1.5-mile oval in 29.371 seconds at 183.855 miles per hour.

The pole winner was Ryan Newman (187.546 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson.

Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 60-minute prerace show at 3 p.m. MT.

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Rondeau Named Crew Chief for Furniture Row Racing

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (May 26, 2010) -- Furniture Row Racing announced today that Pete Rondeau has been named crew chief for the No. 78 Chevrolet, driven by Regan Smith in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Rondeau's new role will commence at this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C.

A 44 year-old native of Saco, Maine, Rondeau joined Furniture Row Racing following the 2009 season. His former position was director of research and development at Richard Petty Motorsports from July 2005 through the 2009 season.

Prior to his employment at Richard Petty Motorsports, which was formerly known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Rondeau worked at Dale Earnhardt Inc. (2001 to May 2005) and Jasper Motorsports (1998-2001). During his three-plus years at DEI, Rondeau's positions included the crew chief role for both Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Pete has brought experience and stature to our team and we feel it was in our best interests to utilize his strengths in the crew chief role," said Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing.

Regarding his new position, Rondeau said, "I have great anticipation in my role as crew chief due mainly to the commitment of Furniture Row Racing and the strong driving talent of Regan Smith."

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Accident Ruins Smith's Strong Run in All-Star Showdown Race

Sat, 22 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 22, 2010) -- A charging Regan Smith saw a solid performance come to an abrupt halt in Saturday night's Sprint Showdown, a 40-lap go-for-broke race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The non-points event showcased 29 cars battling it out with only the top-two finishers transferring into the main event -- the Sprint All-Star Race.

Smith started 11th and drove tenaciously as he immediately zoomed forward in his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. But on Lap 17 and running fifth, he got tangled with Juan Pablo Montoya, sending both drivers into the wall and eventually to the garage with a premature ending. Smith was credited with a 26th-place finish.

"The replay in my head says that he (Montoya) wasn't clear and he was trying to take some space that wasn't his," said Smith about the accident. "In an event like this, you aren't going to give that up. I'm sure he has a different opinion."

Smith added, "I guess you can say it was a good news, bad news night of racing for our Furniture Row team. The bad news is that we didn't get to finish the race and have a shot at gaining a berth in the All-Star Race. The good news is that we really had a competitive car for this track, which gives us a lot of confidence for next week's Coca-Cola 600."

The 1.5-mile Charlotte oval will host the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 30 -- NASCAR's traditional Memorial Day weekend event. The 400-lap, 600-mile race is the longest on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit.

The top-two finishers in the Showdown were Martin Truex Jr. and Greg Biffle.

The winner of the Sprint All-Star Race was Kurt Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Truex, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart.

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Rain Cancels Showdown Qualifying in Charlotte; Smith to Start 11th

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 21, 2010) -- Wet weather Friday evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway forced track officials to cancel qualifying for Saturday night's NASCAR Showdown race, a 40-lapper which will seed the top-two finishers into the evening's main event -- the non-points Sprint All-Star Race.

The field was set according to the driver's qualifying draw, meaning that Furniture Row Racing pilot Regan Smith will start 11th.

The Showdown, which is for drivers not qualified for the All-Star Race, will consist of 29 cars. The All-Star field will showcase 21 cars.

Starting on the pole will be David Ragan. Rounding out the top-five in order will be: Max Papis, Sam Hornish Jr., Kevin Conway and Greg Biffle.

All-Star coverage will be televised live on SPEED, beginning with the Showdown race at 5 p.m. MT. The All-Star race follows the Showdown with an approximate starting time of 7 p.m. MT.

The format for the Sprint All-Star Race is as follows:

Segment 1: 50 laps with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25 at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the end of Segment 1, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop.

Segment 2: 20 laps with the caution flag displayed at the end of Segment 2 for an optional pit stop.

Segment 3: 20 laps with a 10-minute break at the end of Segment 3. Teams may make normal adjustments to their cars during this break. The finishing order after the third segment determines the fieldâ€™s lineup for the pace lap prior to the start of the fourth segment.

Segment 4: Once the field takes a lap behind the pace car, all cars must enter pit road for a four-tire stop. The order in which the cars exit pit road is how they will line up for the 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.

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It's Full Throttle for Smith as He Eyes All-Star Berth in Charlotte

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (May 19, 2010) -- After seeing performance improvement the past two weeks, Regan Smith and his Furniture Row Racing team are looking to kick it up a notch as the Colorado-based team settles into the Charlotte area for a pair of high-profile races within an eight-day period.

Smith is taking a no-holds-barred approach into Saturday night's Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 40-lap race for drivers who have not qualified for the evening's main event -- the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The top-two finishers from the Showdown along with a driver from a fan vote will be seeded into the 21-car all-star event.

"We know what we have to do, and that is to go as fast as we can for 40 laps in our Furniture Row Chevy," said Smith about the Showdown race. "From what we gained in performance the past two weeks, I feel we indeed have the potential to compete for those two spots. One thing I do know is that we're not going to hold back on anything. It's pedal to the metal for the entire length of the race."

Two weeks ago in Darlington, S.C. Smith ran in the top-15 for a good portion of the race before ending with a 17th-place finish. Last week was another solid effort with a 24th-place result in Dover, Del.

"The key for us is to continue to make headway from a performance standpoint," stated Smith. "We're basically a new team this year and we need to look at the big picture. And everything I am seeing and feeling is that we're making gains. That break-through race could come at any time."

While Smith will go all out in Saturday's Showdown, the team will also look to gather data for next week's Coca-Coca 600 Sprint Cup event, NASCAR's longest race of the season.

"We have some things we want to try for next week's 600-miler and the All Star weekend gives us an opportunity to test a few different combinations," said No. 78 crew chief Ryan Coniam. "We tested at Charlotte earlier and feel that we're coming into the race with a good handle of what is needed. It's always fun when you see improvement, and to continue the improvement will be our goal in the coming weeks."

Following Saturday night's all-star races, the Sprint Cup Series returns to the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday (May 27) for Coca-Cola 600 practice and qualifying. Practice continues on Saturday (May 29) and the 400-lap, 600-mile Memorial Day weekend classic is slated to begin Sunday afternoon (May 30) at 6 p.m. ET.

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Smith Finishes 24th in Dover

Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DOVER, Del. (May 16, 2010) -- Regan Smith drove to a 24th-place finish in Sunday's Autism Speaks 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.

"Considering that we started 37th and ran in the low to mid 20s for the majority of the race, it wasn't that bad of a day," said Smith.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet struggled during practice on Friday and Saturday and basically went into the 400-mile race with an untested setup. But the decisions made by crew chief Ryan Coniam and the engineering staff paid dividends as Smith was able to move forward from the get go.

"We were off in practice and didn't have a good handle on the Furniture Row Chevy," said Smith. "But the changes we made after Saturday's practices were good ones. Our car was strong in the middle of the race, but it did lose some of its zip at the end. We're battling for top 20s, then top 15s and eventually top 10s. I feel we're on the right path -- we just need to be patient."

The 24th-place finish for Smith followed a 17th-place result in Darlington last week.

"We're all on the same page and feel good about our recent improvement," said Smith, who remains 31st in driver points. "We're not that far away from putting it all together. That learning curve is getting shorter."

The race winner was Kyle Busch, who also won Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Dover. Rounding out the top-five in order at the Cup race were: Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and David Reutimann.

The race had five cautions for 24 laps. There were 20 lead changes among eight drivers.

The next race for the Denver, Colo.-based team is the Sprint All-Star weekend, May 21-22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The next points race is Sunday, May 30 -- the Coca-Cola 600, also at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Smith to Start 37th in Dover

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DOVER, Del. (May 14, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 37th in Sunday's Autism Speaks 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.

In Friday's time trials at the one-mile oval, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet recorded a lap time and speed of 23.417 seconds at 153.734 miles per hour.

"We're going to have to do what we did last week and that is to pass cars and move forward as quickly as possible," said Smith. "We have some work ahead of us, but the two practices tomorrow will give us the opportunity to work on different combinations."

The pole winner was Martin Truex Jr. (157.315). Rounding out the top five in order were: Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson.

Sunday's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Taking Momentum to Dover

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (May 12, 2010) -- Continuing the momentum from last week's Sprint Cup race in Darlington, S.C. is paramount according to Regan Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet.

"Performance wise, we had a strong race last week at Darlington and it sure felt good to be running with the big dogs," explained Smith. "I feel it's very important that we take advantage of what we did in Darlington by doing it again on Sunday in Dover. We're establishing a progression of improvement and that's why we're all feeling pretty good at Furniture Row Racing."

After running in the top-15 for a good portion in Saturday night's race at Darlington Raceway, Smith slipped at the end when he got boxed in on the final restart with 18 laps to go. He finished 17th.

"We sure had mixed feelings about Darlington," said crew chief Ryan Coniam. "I know that Regan was bummed after a great driving job, and I was equally as bummed because we had the potential for a top-10 finish. But on the flip side, there were plenty of positives that came out of the Darlington weekend that we will take to Dover."

Regarding Sunday's Autism Speaks 400 Cup race, the good news for the Denver-based Furniture Row team is that Smith is enamored with the facility, and has had some decent runs at the all-concrete Monster Mile.

"I join the chorus of drivers when I say that Dover is an awesome place to race at," said Smith. "I've only raced there a few times, but each time I am at Dover I enjoy the place even more. We're knocking at the door for our first top-10 and I have this inner feeling that the door is going to open soon."

Sunday's race will be Smith's fifth Cup start at Dover. His best finishes were 21st in June 2008 and 22nd in June 2009.

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Performance Better Than Result for Smith at Darlington

Sat, 08 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 8, 2010) -- Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team had mixed feelings with their 17th-place finish in Saturday night's SHOWTIME Southern 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway.

Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet ran solidly in the top-15 for the majority of the race and it appeared that a top-10 was in sight for the Denver, Colo.-based team as the 367-lap was winding down at the 1.366-mile oval. But on the final restart with 18 laps to go and running in 14th-place Smith got unlucky as he got boxed in with the heavy traffic and slid back three positions.

"We had an awesome car tonight -- much better than a 17th-place finish," said Smith, who was sandwiched in between Mark Martin (16) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (18th) at the checkered flag. "The Furniture Row team did a great job with this RCR-built car -- it was fast in practice on Friday and continued to be fast in the race. The guys on pit road also did a great job. This could be the race that we look back on and say, 'Darlington was the turning point of season.' "

Though Smith started 32nd he came out of the gate strong as he patiently drove his Chevy through traffic and away from the infamous Darlington wall that took a beating throughout the night as cars were constantly scraping the concrete barrier.

"Darlington has a mean reputation, but as I have said many times, it's also a fun track to race on," stated Smith. "Everything was clicking tonight except after that final restart where it got pretty crowded out there. We had the juice to possibly hit a top-10 tonight, but considering what we've been through the performance was definitely a great morale boost to the team."

The 17th-place result was the best ending for the Furniture Row team since finishing 14th in Atlanta in early March.

"We're down a little because of the finishing position, but there's also a positive feeling due to our solid performance tonight," said No. 78 crew chief Ryan Coniam. "We had a good set up in the car, strong pit stops and a great driving effort by Regan. We are encouraged with this weekend's performance, but on the other hand, we all feel that we should have had a better result."

Smith gained two spots in the driver standings and currently sits in 31st place. The team is also 31st in owner points.

Darlington's race winner was Denny Hamlin, who also won Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Rounding out the top-five in the Cup race were: Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya.

There were 11 cautions in the race for 56 laps and 20 lead changes among 11 drivers.

The next stop for the Sprint Cup Series will be Sunday (May 16) at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

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Smith Qualifies 32nd in Darlington

Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 7, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 32nd in Saturday night's SHOWTIME Southern 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway.

In Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.366-mile oval in 27.962 seconds at 176.094 miles per hour.

"We just didn't get it done today," said Smith. "But tomorrow is when it counts and I feel that we'll be able to step on it and move forward in the Furniture Row Chevy."

The pole winner was Jamie McMurray (180.370). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers, David Reutimann and Mark Martin.

Saturday night's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

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Smith to Sport New Car for Saturday Night Date with Lady in Black

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (May 5, 2010) -- Driving a spanking new automobile out of a dealership lot is one of those feel-good occurrences that brings both excitement and anticipation to the buyer. The feeling is mutual in the NASCAR world when a driver gets handed a new stock car for an upcoming Sprint Cup event, especially if it's built by a powerhouse racing organization.

Regan Smith is currently enjoying that special feeling since he will have a new Richard Childress Racing-built car for his Saturday night date with the Lady in Black, also known as Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Smith's Furniture Row Racing team entered into an engineering and technical alliance with RCR at the beginning of the season.

"The Lady and I have had some so-so dates in the past and that's why I am hoping this new car will change my luck," said Smith in regards to Saturday night's race at the daunting 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval. "Any time you get to drive a new car built by the RCR people, you have to feel upbeat. And right now we're looking at this new Furniture Row Chevrolet to deliver a strong performance in Darlington."

Saturday's SHOWTIME Southern 500 will be Smith's third career Cup start at Darlington. He finished 21st last year and 29th in 2008. His best overall finish at Darlington was 12th in the 2007 Nationwide race.

"Darlington is a humbling race," stated Smith. "Just when you think you have it all under control, one little hiccup you'll be in the wall without making contact with another car. There's not much space between the car and wall, leaving you wilth almost zero margin of error. It's tense there, but because of its unique configuration, Darlington is a fun track to race on."

Smith and the No. 78 Denver-based team is coming off a disappointing finish of 30th in last week's race at Richmond.

"From an outside observer the performance in Richmond was not good," noted Smith. "But from an internal standpoint, we all feel that we made some gains as a team, and that's encouraging as we head into Darlington."

Darlington will be the 11th of the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule. Smithâ€™s best finish in the first 10 races was 14th in the March race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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Smith Finishes 30th in Richmond.

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

RICHMOND, Va. (May 1, 2010) -- Regan Smith finished 30th in Saturday night's Crown Royal Heath Calhoun 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

"I know it doesn't look like we're gaining, but we did make some gains this weekend," said Smith. "Yes, it's discouraging to finish 30th, but it's that old saying -- you have to take a few steps backwards before you can go forward. We'll take a few deep breaths and then get ready for Darlington next week."

Smith started 28th and basically ran between 26th and 32nd during the 400-lap race. At times Smith would produce quick lap times on the .75-mile oval, but then handling issues would set in and slow the performance of his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

"We didn't have consistency," said crew chief Ryan Coniam. "But as Regan was saying afterwards, we're seeing improvement within the Furniture Row team and we look at that as a positive."

The disappointing part for Smith is that he likes short track racing, especially at Richmond. "Competing at a track you don't like or don't have a good feel for is one thing. But when you like a track as I do with Richmond, you want to go out there and run up front. The way we ran tonight was not enjoyable."

Smith remained 33rd in driver points and the team remained 32nd in owner points.

The race winner was Kyle Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards.

The next cup race is Saturday night (May 8) at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

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Smith Qualifies 29th in Richmond

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

RICHMOND, Va. (April 30, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 29th in Saturday night's Crown Royal Heath Calhoun 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

In Friday's time trials, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the .75-mile oval in 21.565 seconds at 125.203 miles per hour.

"We were looking for a better lap than that," said Smith. "But we will continue to battle hard and look to bring home a solid finish in tomorrow night's race."

The pole winner was Kyle Busch (127.077). Rounding out the top five in order were: David Reutimann, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman.

Saturday night's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a 30-minute prerace show at 5 p.m. MT.

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Smith, Furniture Row Racing Endure While Waiting for Turnaround

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (April 28, 2010) --- Regan Smith is obviously frustrated by the cycle of bad luck that has struck his Furniture Row Racing team. But he is also a realist, knowing that this is something that practically every racer must endure at some point in a season.

Especially a season as long as NASCAR's 10-month, 36-race schedule.

The most recent bad luck to hit the Denver-based team was in Sunday's restrictor-plate race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Smith ran consistently in the top-five and top-10 and was able to drive back to the front with ease after being shuffled out of the draft.

But to his dismay, an engine failure on Lap 100 of 200, sent Smith and his No. 78 Chevrolet home early.

"That one hurt, actually it stung for a while," said Smith. "I understand it's superspeedway racing, but this was a special car that had potential of bringing home a strong finish."

What would make Smith feel a whole lot better is to have the same type of performance level, minus engine issues of course, in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

"I am in the majority when it comes to giving a thumbs up about the Richmond venue," noted Smith. "It is one of the best tracks and races we have. It would even increase a few notches in my track preference meter if we can survive the bad luck whammy and finish strong in Saturday night's race."

Smith said being associated with the professionalism and polish of his Furniture Row team makes it easier to handle the not-so-good times.

"The guys feel bad for me and I in turn feel just as bad for them because I know that they are as dedicated as any team out there," explained Smith. "There is no finger pointing, instead we have great camaraderie. When you have this type of team unity, it is much easier to let the past go and look to the future."

Saturday's race will be Smith's fourth Cup start at Richmond. He finished 21st and 23rd in the 2008 Richmond races, and at the September race last year he suffered an accident and was credited with a 40th-place result.

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Engine Failure Spoils Strong Performance by Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 25, 2010) -- Regan Smith was enjoying one of his best races of the season until an engine failure sidelined him prematurely with a frustrating 38th-place finish in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet was running in the top-five when smoke started to spew from his motor on lap 100 of 200.

"There was no warning, it (the motor) just broke," said Smith. "Very frustrating. We've always had good speedway cars but this one was really strong. I am proud of our guys, they built a great racecar. I can't complain, Hendrick builds us great motors and we rarely have trouble with them."

Prior to the engine malfunction, Smith ran consistently in the top-five and top-10. He led twice for three laps and when he lost ground in the draft, he came right back to the front.

"Regan was in cruise mode, just trying to stay out of trouble and run up front," said crew chief Ryan Coniam. "We talked about a game plan before the race and debated if we should hang in the back or go right to the front. Regan chose to go to the front and did a great job there. He's a hell of a (restrictor) plate racer. It's really disappointing to have this happen after running in the top-10 and top-five all day."

So far for Smith and the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row team it's been a double whammy season of superpseedway racing. At the season-opening Daytona 500, Smith was collected in an accident on Lap 9 of 200.

"We've had nothing but bad luck so far on superspeedways," said Smith. "As I keep on saying, we have a great superspeedway program, and eventually the luck will change and we'll come away with a strong finish. But right now our thoughts are on Saturday night's short track race in Richmond."

Smith dropped to 33rd in driver points and 32nd in owner points.

The event, which went 12 laps into overtime and with the maximum of three green-white-checkered restarts, was won by Kevin Harvick, who snapped a 115-race winless drought. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin.

Talladega was the second of four superspeedway races. The next one is July 3 at Daytona International Speedway.

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Weather Threat Cancels Cup Qualifying at Talladega

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 24, 2010) -- A threat of severe weather at Talladega Superspeedway forced NASCAR to cancel all track activity today (Saturday), including the Sprint Cup qualifying session. The starting lineup for Sunday's Aaron's 499 race will be set according to owner points.

Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith will start 31st.

In Friday's first practice session at the 2.66-mile oval, Smith was second fastest on the speed charts. He did not participate in the second practice session since he was happy with the car's setup and did not want to risk getting wrecked on the accident-prone track.

Jimmie Johnson (No. 1 in points) will lead the 43-car field. Rounding out the top-five in order are: Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.

Sundayâ€™s race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT (11 a.m. local time). The green flag is scheduled to drop at 11:20 MT (12:20 local). The forecast for Sunday is partly sunny with temperatures in the low 80s.

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Smith Claims 21st-Place Finish in Texas

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 19, 2010) -- Regan Smith's Furniture Row team finished 21st in Monday's rain-delayed Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Though Smith wrestled with the handling of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, he managed to keep the car out of trouble, which paid big dividends for the Denver, Colo.-based team.

With 15 laps remaining in the 334-lap, 501-mile race, Smith was struggling in 31st position. But a nine-car wreck in front of him gave Smith an opportunity to successfully gain 10 positions.

"We're still learning with these RCR-built cars (Richard Childress Racing)," said Smith. "We're getting better. We just need to be a little more patient. But being patient is hard sometimes because we know that we're capable of running better than what we have shown recently. I am not sure if we even deserved a 21st-place finish today, but that's not important. What's important is that we're grinding hard and keeping a positive attitude."

Furniture Row Racing crew chief Ryan Coniam said the team needs to continue to work hard to find a combination that will work for Smith.

"We weren't good today and didn't give Regan what he needed," said the 30-year-old Coniam. "We need to make Regan feel comfortable in the car. He's a good driver, but we need to give him a set-up that he is comfortable with."

Smith gained one spot in the point standings and is now 31st.

The race winner was Denny Hamlin. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne.

The next Cup race is Sunday (April 25) at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

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Smith Claims 21st-Place Finish in Texas

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Smith Claims 21st-Place Finish in Texas

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Rain Washes Out Texas Cup Race; Rescheduled for Monday

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 18, 2010) -- Steady rain forced NASCAR to postpone Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. The race has been rescheduled for tomorrow (Monday) at 10 a.m. MT (11 a.m. local time). FOX will televise the 334-lap, 501-mile event.

Regan Smith, driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, will start 26th.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series race will follow the Cup race, beginning at 3 p.m. MT

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Smith Qualifies 26th in Texas

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 16, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 26th in Sunday's Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

In Friday's time trials at the lightning-fast Texas Motor Speedway, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet covered the 1.5-mile quad-oval in 28.618 seconds at 188.692 miles per hour.

"We still have two more practice sessions tomorrow to get our Furniture Row Chevy dialed in for Sunday's race," said Smith. "We have continually made small improvements to the car, and Saturday will help us make the needed adjustments to get ready for race day."

The pole winner was Tony Stewart (191.327 mph). Rounding out the top-five in order were: Sam Hornish Jr., Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne.

Sunday's 334-lap, 500-mile race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at noon MT. The green flag is scheduled to drop at 1 p.m. MT.

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Same RCR Car Lifts Smith's Outlook for Texas

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (April 14, 2010) -- The No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet that Regan Smith will drive in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway will be the same Richard Childress Racing-built car that he drove last week in Phoenix.

The Phoenix race was the first time that Furniture Row Racing entered a RCR-built car since the two companies formed a technical and engineering alliance at the beginning of the season.

"Texas will be our second straight race with a RCR car," said Smith. "On paper the Phoenix finish (26th) wasn't that good, but we sure made some gains after slipping with poor performances in Bristol (36th) and Martinsville (32nd). Having the same RCR car in Texas as we had in Phoenix gives us a good feeling about this weekend. We know Texas is a fast track and we're fine with that."

Smith, his crew chief, Ryan Coniam, and other members of the Denver, Colo-based team got together for a post-Phoenix debriefing and a pre-Texas game plan.

"It was a great meeting as we addressed many issues," noted Smith. "We felt that we were heading in the right direction, but have plenty of work ahead of us, especially with our qualifying performances. We haven't been qualifying that well and need to bump up that effort. Where you start has a lot to do on how the race plays out."

For the record, Smith has a 27.33 average starting position at the last six races. "That's not good, we definitely need to be better in qualifying," stated Smith.

With Texas Motor Speedway being a 1.5-mile track, Smith was asked to evaluate the team's performances at the intermediate tracks.

"Actually our performances at the intermediate tracks so far have been a little better than we expected," offered Smith. "We had finishes of 19th in California, 21st in Las Vegas and 14th in Atlanta. It's been the two short track finishes of 36th in Bristol and 32nd in Martinsville that have really hurt us. We expected to be better at the short tracks. But it's still early in the season, and this is a committed team. Knowing what we have learned recently, I only have an optimistic outlook with Furniture Row Racing."

After seven races, Smith is 32nd in Sprint Cup driver points.

"As I keep on saying, it's early in the season," said the 26-year-old Smith. "With all the new people at Furniture Row Racing and the new alliance with RCR, we're going through a learning process. It's going to take time, but once we start to click, it's going to be good."

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Smith Battles to 26th-Place Finish in Arizona

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

AVONDALE, Ariz. (April 10, 2010) -- Regan Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team finished 26th in Saturday evening's Subway Fresh Fit 600k Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

The race was a learning curve for the Denver, Colo.-based team since it was the first time that Smith drove a Richard Childress Racing-built car in competition. Furniture Row Racing and RCR formed a technical and engineering alliance at the beginning of the season.

Smith's No. 78 Chevrolet ran on the tight side during the 378-lap race at the one-mile oval. But smart adjustments and excellent pit stops kept Smith on the lead lap as he improved from finishing positions of 36th and 32nd at the last two races in Bristol, Tenn. and Martinsville, Va.

"We fought hard all day," said Smith. "The car's handling was a problem, but it did get better as the race wore on. Anytime you run something new you know it's going to take time to get the bugs worked out. We're excited about our alliance with Richard Childress Racing and know that this Furniture Row program is going to get better."

Smith qualified 28th and basically ran in the low to high 20s throughout the race. "We had issues, but Regan was patient and kept the car out of trouble and did another great driving job," said team crew chief Ryan Coniam. "Once we get the pieces worked out, we know we have the driver who can get the car to the front."

Smith remained 32nd in the Sprint Cup driver point standings.

The race winner was Ryan Newman. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya.

The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday (April 18) at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

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Smith Qualifies 28th in Arizona

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

AVONDALE, Ariz. (April 9, 2010) -- Regan Smith will start 28th in Saturday evening's Subway Fresh Fit 600k NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

In Saturday's time trials at Phoenix International Raceway, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet toured the one-mile oval in 27.182 seconds at 132.441 miles per hour.

"The good news is that we made a pretty good gain from practice," said Smith. "I know that Ryan (Coniam, crew chief) and the guys will look over all the data this evening and come up with a game plan for tomorrow's race. If we can make a similar gain when the race starts, I feel that we'll be in good position."

The No. 1 qualifier was AJ Allmendinger (134.675 mph) -- his first career pole. Rounding out the top five in order were: Scott Speed, Sam Hornish Jr., Marcos Ambrose and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Saturday's 375-lap race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at 5 p.m. MT (4 p.m. local time). The green flag is scheduled to drop at 5:45 p.m. MT (4:45 local).

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Pikes Peak Test Preps Smith, Furniture Row Racing for Phoenix Cup Race

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (April 7, 2010) -- Regan Smith's confidence meter took a jump following a successful test session Tuesday at the one-mile Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo.

Smith and the Furniture Row Racing team will no doubt attempt to transfer the data learned at the Pikes Peak facility to its No. 78 Chevrolet for Saturday evening's Subway Fresh Fit 600k NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Like Pikes Peak, the Phoenix oval is also one-mile in distance.

"Last year we tested at Pikes Peak the week of the Phoenix race and it paid off -- we had one of our best performances of the season," said Smith. "During Tuesday's test we worked on brakes and found a few things that we're going to implement this weekend in Phoenix."

At the 2009 April race in Phoenix, Smith qualified ninth and ran in the top-10 for a good portion of the race. He was in position for a possible top-10 finish, but a pit road miscue late in the race sent him to the back with a 28th-place result.

"Though I was extremely disappointed and left the racetrack in a sour mood, deep down I knew we hit a new level as a race team," recalled Smith. "Qualifying in the top-10 and running neck and neck with the big dogs of the sport was a great feeling. That's what we want to do this weekend after two sub par performances. We have what it takes, we just need to go out there and do it."

After finishing a season high of 14th at Atlanta in early March, Smith struggled at the past two races with finishes of 36th in Bristol, Tenn. and 32nd in Martinsville, Va.

"We just didn't get the job done at the past two races, not much else to say," offered Smith. "We have to get back to basics and run the way we're capable of running. I like the Phoenix track, and I also had some pretty good runs there in the Nationwide Series. Picking up momentum is what we need right now. We need to make a move."

Smith's best run at Phoenix in the Nationwide Series was eighth in 2007 while driving for Ginn Racing.

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Frustrating Day at Martinsville for Smith, Furniture Row Racing

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (March 29, 2010) -- A combination of handling problems and two flat tires resulted in a 32nd-place finish for Regan Smith in Monday's rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.

Smith, who started 28th, had issues early with a tight-handling racecar. No matter what adjustments were made to the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, Smith could not find the proper grip for the coarse .526-mile track.

Twice during the 508-lap overtime race, Smith suffered a blown right-front tire. The tire issues coupled with handling problems made it a difficult day for the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team.

"It was a long, frustrating day," said Smith. "We all know that we're going to experience days like today, but hopefully it will be a long time before this happens again. We just couldn't get anything going. Tires and excessive break heat were a problem, and the handling of the car just made things worse. When the car isn't right for Martinsville, the track will step up and bite you, as it did to us today."

The finish left Smith in 32nd-place in the Sprint Cup driver point standings.

The race winner was Denny Hamlin, who drove from fourth to first in the green-white-checkered finish. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Joey Logano, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr.

The Sprint Cup circuit will have Easter weekend off. The next Cup race is slated for Saturday April 10 at Phoenix International Raceway.

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Rain Forces Postponement of Martinsvile Cup Race

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway has been postponed until noon ET Monday due to rain. The 500-lap-race at the .526-mile oval will be televised live on FOX.

Furniture Row driver Regan Smith will start from the 28th position.

Wet Weather Cancels NASCAR Qualifying in Martinsville

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (March 26, 2010) -- Sprint Cup qualifying was washed out Friday due to a persistent light drizzle at Martinsville Speedway. The starting lineup for Sunday's Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 will be set according to owner points.

Regan Smith will start 28th in his No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet.

Points leader Kevin Harvick will lead the 43-car field. Rounding out the top five in order will be: Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart.

Saturday's schedule calls for two Sprint Cup practice sessions.

Sunday's race will be televised on FOX, beginning with a prerace show at 10 a.m. MT.

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Smith Looking for Short Track Make Good

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

DENVER, Colo. (March 24, 2010) -- There's unfinished business ahead for Regan Smith and Furniture Row Racing.
The Colorado-based NASCAR team is looking to rebound from Sunday's 36th-place disappointment at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway due to a flat tire that sent Smith crashing into the wall.

"We were hoping to make some hay in the standings during the back-to-back short track races at Bristol and Martinsville," stated Smith. "So far it hasn't worked out -- we went backwards at Bristol because of a tire problem. That's why a strong run on Sunday in Martinsville is even more important for the Furniture Row team."

The .526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway -- known for chewing up brakes and having the tastiest hot dogs on the NASCAR circuit, will host this weekend's short track Sprint Cup race -- the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500.

"Bristol is behind us and we're going into Martinsville with a patient attitude as we attempt to score a high-points finish," said the 26-year-old Smith. "Regarding the debut of the spoiler at Martinsville, I am not really sure how that is going to come into play with our Furniture Row Chevrolet. We'll just wait and see and make adjustments as we go on."

If there were a sliver lining for Smith following Bristol's disappointment it was that the No. 78 Furniture Row team was ranked 28th in owner points, well within the top 35 teams, which receive an automatic qualifying berth.

"It's a great feeling going into a race weekend knowing that you already have a qualifying position secured," added Smith. "But just to hang around the qualifying bubble is not our goal. We're a better team than where we are currently positioned in the standings. In two of the first five races we had poor finishes that were beyond our control. At Daytona it was being collected in an early accident (finished 39th) and last week in Bristol (36th) it was a flat tire."

Sunday's race will be Smith's fourth Cup start at the historic southern Virginia track. He finished 26th in March 2007, 14th in March 2008 and 42nd in October 2008. He did not enter the two Martinsville races last year. Smith also had a 14th-place result at Martinsville in the July 2006 Nationwide race.

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