In just three NASCAR races since 2007 at California’s Sonoma road course, Denver’s Regan Smith twice finished in the 30s and once back at 16th — not exactly brag-worthy.
So to prepare for Sunday’s Sprint Cup stop at Sonoma (airing on TNT at noon), Smith got some help. The driver of the Furniture Row Racing No. 78 car went to Deer Trail to train with local legend Rick Carelli of Arvada, a longtime racer at the High Plains Raceway.
Carelli, who has worked as a spotter for Smith, is experienced at road courses. He’s known as “The High Plains Drifter.”
“If you don’t like road racing, chances are you’re not going to do well at it,” Carelli said this week in a release. “But that’s not the case with Regan.”
The Sonoma course is a difficult, 10-turn, nearly 2-mile track. But it can be tamed, even for first-timers. Kurt Busch last year earned his first road course victory at Sonoma, beating nine-time road winner Jeff Gordon.
“Seeing the beating and banging that goes on, and the guys roughing up each other, makes for some really good entertainment,” Smith said.
