Over the years, Regan Smith’s ability behind the wheel has seldom been questioned. However, 2015 would be the third straight season where we will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
Due to the circumstances regarding NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch, Smith now has a chance in a top-tier car.
Last November, Patricia Driscoll reported that her ex-boyfriend, Busch, had verbally and physically abused her, which included accusations of smashing her head against the wall of his motor coach at Dover International Raceway. Though Busch has not been charged with the allegation, NASCAR has suspended him indefinitely after a judge approved Driscoll’s request of an order of protection against the 37-year-old. Chevrolet has also suspended their relationship with the 2004 Sprint Cup Series champion.
Back in mid-2013, it was announced that Stewart-Haas Racing would make the move and become a four-car team when they added Busch.
Gene Haas, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, went out of his way to land Busch with backing from his own company, and it caught Stewart off-guard. It was just a few weeks prior to Busch’s signing that Stewart repeatedly stated that the organization was not ready to make the move to a fourth team.
Though the three-time champion has shown support for Busch following his multiple behavioral outbursts, this might have pushed the line.
In 2012, when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. received a concussion due to a viscous crash at Talladega Superspeedway, Smith filled in for him. The following year at Richmond International Raceway, Jimmie Johnson had to miss a couple of practice sessions because he was on “baby-watch.” Then last August, when Stewart took a leave of absence due to the Kevin Ward tragedy, it was Smith who filled in for him at Watkins Glen.
On the Friday preceding the Daytona 500, two nights before the biggest race of the Sprint Cup Series season, it was announced that Busch was suspended indefinitely. With no hesitation after the team had a contingency plan, it was announced that Smith would pilot the car for the “Great American Race.”
This could be exactly what the central New York native needs to prove that he can run well in top-notch cars in the top-tier division of NASCAR.
“They have a car capable of winning the race, and that is what we are going to go out and try to do,” Smith said in a press conference prior to the NASCAR XFINITY Series event.
Even though Smith ended up finishing in 16th in the Daytona 500, there were times in the race that he was solidly in the top-10.
Following his run at Daytona, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that the 31-year-old will drive the No. 41 car at Atlanta, but it has not been determined who will be in that vehicle following that event.
In six career starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Smith has a best finish of 14th on two occasions with Furniture Row Racing. With a solid run this weekend, Smith could make a point that it is his time. He has won at one of the most challenging tracks in NASCAR, Darlington, with Furniture Row Racing who at the time did not have the quality of resources that they do today with an alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
It will be a difficult task to run two full-time schedules if Stewart-Haas Racing executives give him that opportunity. Moreover, if he earns the chance to continue racing for the team, it could lead to a chance at returning to the Cup Series in 2016, which has been his goal since taking a step back.
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