Regan Smith, last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year, is the new driver for Denver-based Furniture Row Racing. The Cato, N.Y., native replaces Joe Nemechek, who was bought out of the final year of his contract after the team — the circuit’s only western effort — chose to cut back from full time to a minimum of 12 races this year.
Smith drove for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, finishing 34th in the standings after qualifying for 34 of 36 point races. Smith nearly won the fall race at Talladega, Ala., but was penalized on the final lap for dipping below the yellow line.
Smith, 25, will make his Furniture Row debut at this month’s Daytona 500, assuming he qualifies. The young driver was in Denver last week and spoke with Denver Post staff writer Mike Chambers. Q: Given the shaky economy and with some veteran drivers without a seat in the Cup Series, I assume you feel lucky just to have a ride, despite being at a minimum of 12 races?
A: To have a smart owner like Barney (Visser), who is so committed to the program, makes sense for me. I think some full-time teams are going to get to a point where the economy will get the best of them, and they’ll have to cut back and skip races. But we’re doing the smart thing, focusing 120 percent on our 12 races and running as good as we possibly can, and in turn that’s going to help bring in other partners that can help us get us back running full time.
Q: Having a resume with Dale Earnhardt Inc. on it has to make any racer proud, huh?
A: I grew up a Dale Earnhardt fan, so to get an opportunity to work for the company that was formed by the guy you idolized is a pretty big deal. I had huge appreciation every time I walked in the door, saying, “This is the place Dale Earnhardt Sr. started,” and it means a lot.
Q: What’s your relationship with the widely popular Dale Earnhardt Jr., who of course broke free of DEI to drive for Hendrick Motorsports before you came aboard?
A: Junior, like anyone else, I’ve gotten to know pretty well. There’s only like 40 or 50 of us at this particular level, and we stay at motor homes at the racetrack for convenience purposes, so it’s like a traveling community. Ninety percent of the drivers are all great guys, Junior being one of those.
Q: Racing runs in your family. Tell me about your parents, Ron and Lee, owning a Nationwide Series (formerly Busch Series) team?
A: I think I was 11 or 12 years old, and they had some pretty good drivers — Jerry Nadeau being one that sticks out. It was pretty cool, seeing firsthand what to expect if I was going to take the next step in racing. That experience gave me an understanding of what the sport was all about.
Q: Did your family’s Busch team help begin your career in New York, before you moved to North Carolina in your early teens?
A: No, not really. I was racing go-karts and quarter-midgets since I was about 4 1/2, and at about 7 I knew that was what I wanted to do. I wasn’t very good at stick-and-ball sports — I didn’t have the size for football or anything like that — and racing was something that came natural to me. When you’re a kid and something comes natural, you’re going to focus your attention on that.
Q: I hear your mom scored for you last year. Will she also count your laps for FRR?
A: I don’t know, but we should ask Barney (laughs). My mom has been very involved, scoring for me since I was a little kid. Both my parents are very supportive and very interested in what’s going on. We get to see each other on a daily basis.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Revving it up
Regan Smith’s favorite musicians:
1. Avenged Sevenfold
2. Linkin Park
3. Shinedown
4. My Chemical Romance
5. Kenny Chesney
