DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 12, 2012) — Kansas will be top of mind for Regan Smith in this weekend’s Geico 400 Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.
“I’m just as excited about heading to Chicagoland Speedway as are the 12 Chase drivers,” said Smith. “The reason for the optimism is that we’re taking the same Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet that we tested with in Kansas a few weeks ago. We were really fast in the Kansas test session, which is a 1.5-mile track like Chicagoland.”
Smith feels his Denver-based team has strength when it comes to the mile-and-a-half ovals, but his recent result at Atlanta Motor Speedway — another 1.5-miler — left him with a personal score to settle.
“We had a top-10 locked at Atlanta — I think we were running ninth and nobody was near us, but then with four laps to go a caution came out and during the two-lap overtime restart our car couldn’t get up to speed on fresh tires and we got shoved back to a 14th-place finish. I know the 12 Chase drivers are going to be competitive this weekend, but I truly feel that we can get that top-10 that slipped away in Atlanta.”
Smith has only started three Sprint Cup races at Chicagoland, but has shown a progression of improvement. He finished 34th in 2008, 20th in 2010 and 17th last year.
“What we need to do is not play catchup in Friday’s two practice sessions,” stated Smith. “Getting the car dialed in early and then fine tuning it is our goal along with a strong qualifying effort on Saturday. Last week in Richmond we didn’t take advantage of our third-place start. We were off in the beginning and when the car got better we were already two laps down. That’s what we need to avoid at Chicagoland.”
While the majority of the eyes will be focused on the 12 Chase drivers during the 10-race playoff format, Smith sees it as an opportunity.
“If we can run with the Chase guys it will give our team a big lift,” said Smith. “When we’re competing in the race, I really don’t give much thought who the Chase drivers are. They’re going to fight for every position and I will do the same.”
Smith’s Career Cup Record at Chicagoland
St Fn 2008 33 34
2010 41 20
2011 13 17
Smith’s 2012 Results Date Event St Fn Laps Status Prize Money Points Rank 2/27 Daytona 500 6 24 200/202 Running 357,034 21 23 3/4 Phoenix 3 20 311/312 Running 93,483 24/45 19 3/11 Las Vegas 28 15 267/267 Running 129,413 29/74 20 3/18 Bristol 6 24 496/500 Running 111,343 20/94 20 3/25 Fontana 22 20 128/129 Running 114,163 24/118 19 4/1 Martinsville 17 16 513/515 Running 106,343 28/146 18 4/14 Texas 26 23 332/334 Running 130,238 21/167 21 4/22 Kansas 29 24 263/267 Running 103,443 20/187 22 4/28 Richmond 15 27 398/400 Running 95,968 17/204 25 5/6 Talladega 31 40 15/194 Engine 87,275 4/208 27 5/12 Darlington 9 14 368/368 Running 117,488 30/238 26 5/27 Charlotte 10 17 398/400 Running 128,488 27/265 23 6/3 Dover 26 27 306/400 Running 103,702 17/282 25 6/10 Pocono 7 16 160/160 Running 101,393 28/310 24 6/17 Michigan 12 28 197/200 Running 87,160 16/326 25 6/24 Sonoma 31 32 109/112 Running 84,960 12/338 25 6/30 Kentucky 26 33 209/267 Accident 81,010 11/349 26 7/7 Daytona 25 34 133/160 Accident 96,555 10/359 26 7/15 N.Hampshire 17 26 298/301 Running 100,818 18/377 26 729 Indianapolis 14 18 160/160 Running 180,483 26/403 24 8/5 Pocono 11 9 98/98 Running 110,043 35/438 24 8/12 Watkins Glen 13 9 90/90 Running 107,568 35/473 23 8/19 Michigan 18 29 154/201 Running 96,507 15/488 23 8/25 Bristol 14 16 500/500 Running 125,813 28/516 23 9/2 Atlanta 27 14 327/327 Running 126,638 30/546 23 9/8 Richmond 3 24 398/400 Running 101,293 20/566 23 Avg. Start: 17.15 Avg. Finish: 22.27 Money: $3,078,622
No. 78 Over-the-Wall Crew Front-tire changer Shane Pipala, Frankfort Square, IL Front-tire carrier Jon Bernal, Holland, Mich. Rear-tire changer Coleman Dollarhide, Hickory, N.C. Rear-tire carrier Dwayne Moore, Griffin, Ga. Jackman Gabe Martin, Lake Wylie, S.C. Gasman Justin White, Lynnville, Tenn. 2nd Gasman Ryan Bergenty, Plainville, Conn. 7th Man/Windshield Todd Carmichael, Redding, Calif. _____________________________________________
No. 78 Road Crew Crew Chief Todd Berrier, Kernersville, N.C. Competition Director Mark McArdle, La Crosse, Wis. Car Chief Robert Huffman, Hickory, N.C. Engineers Cole Pearn, London, Ontario Matt Faulkner, Memphis, Tenn. Technical Director Phil Jimenez, Germantown, Tenn. Spotters Rick Carelli, Arvada, Colo. Clayton Hughes, Thomasville, N.C. Engine Specialist Scott Meesters, Hanford, Calif. Engine Builder Earnhardt-Childress Racing Shock Specialist Nick Kerlin, Old Fort, Ohio Tire Specialist Chad Krauch, Loveland, Colo. Technical Support Michael McCullough, Imperial, Calif. Mechanics Ryan Bergenty, Plainville, Conn. Todd Carmichael, Redding, Calif. Joe Kerrigan, Canon City, Colo.
Transportation Henry Benfield (also gas runner), Statesville, N.C. Jim Gilbert, Belleville, IL Dave Hicks, Montcalm, WVa. Chuck Lemay, DeKalb, IL John Slingerland, Sacramento, Calif. Dennis Valverde, Albuquerque, N.M.
