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How about checking into his past concussions :)
Cup rookie of the year Regan Smith still hoping to return in 2009
By Rea White - Associate Editor
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Regan Smith, driver of the No. 01 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet, won the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year award in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Jeff Robinson
NASCAR Scene
Regan Smith and his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team entered the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season laboring in the shadow of a group of high-profile rookie drivers. He ended it atop the standings for Raybestos Rookie of the Year and as one of only two from the crop who made it through the entire season.
And Smith did it in style.
The 25-year-old driver from Cato, N.Y., was the first rookie in NASCAR history to be running at the end of every race he ran. He almost won a race - some would argue that he did - with a bold move at Talladega Superspeedway. He also kept his team in the top 35 in owner points despite its limited funding. He’s the only rookie to have done that this year as well, finishing 32nd in owner points and 34th in the driver standings.
When the season started, previous race winners and champions from the open-wheel ranks stole the rookie headlines and hinted at a shift in the development-driver concept in NASCAR. But Smith was the one who made it through. Sadly, all of his team did not.
Smith accepted his rookie award in a ceremony at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday. He brought his team with him to accept the honor. The team that managed to get his car back on track after he lost his brakes at Martinsville Speedway, the team that kept that no-DNF streak alive, the team that he felt also deserved recognition for the accomplishment.
Several of the team members in attendance have already lost their jobs as part of layoffs following the company's merger with Chip Ganassi Racing. Smith himself is not certain of his future, though he says he is confident he will return to the Cup ranks next season.
But this season gave them a highlight to remember. Their story is one that not only shows that a relatively unknown driver can still make it in NASCAR, but it also is speaks a lot about the tough times the sport faces these days. Smith and his determined group are simply another sign of what is happening in NASCAR these days.
Smith believes that the experience of the entire rookie class reflects the troubles teams faced this season. The year started with Jacques Villeneuve in a Bill Davis Racing car, but that team missed the Daytona 500 and then dissolved when it was unable to secure sponsorship; IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti watched his No. 40 Chip Ganassi team shut down because of a lack of funding earlier this season; Patrick Carpentier and Michael McDowell were each replaced by their teams after falling outside the top 35 in owner points. Only Smith and Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr. made it to season's end.
"There were a lot of big-name guys that their rides dried up, and they didn't have a ride at the end of the season, whether it be because they fell out of the points and started missing races or because of the lack of funding and sponsorship," Smith said. "I think that was a little bit of a taste of what was going to happen in the future as far as what we're seeing right now with the sponsorship situation that's going on throughout the entire garage area."
Smith and his team, however, believed in themselves from the start. Despite the occasional rumor that the group would not to continue to run all season because of a lack of funding, he always believed they would. He says that people such as team owner Teresa Earnhardt and team President Max Siegel assured him that the team would run all season and encouraged him to focus on improving the performance of the team and keeping it in the top 35 in owner points.
So that's what he did. Smith had a best finish of 14th, but he may be best remembered for the final laps at Talladega Superspeedway in the fall. Running second, he made a bold move on leader Tony Stewart, sweeping past him to the inside on the final lap.
He completed the pass and was ahead when the checkered flag waved, but NASCAR ruled that he had completed the pass below the yellow line, which is not permitted. Of course, many believed that the rule was open to interpretation, pointing out that such passes are permitted if officials rule that another competitor forced the driver below the line. Fans debate to this day whether Smith was forced there, and even some of his top competitors pointed out that if he had held his line, he would have most likely caused a crash at the front of the pack.
So the debate continues. Smith has moved past the incident, though he admits that he still sees it in his mind.
"The actual tape itself, I've probably viewed two or three times," he said. "I saw it two times, and I think I knew what had happened already. I've seen it more just sitting down at deals like this than I have purposely sitting down to watch it. In my head? I've got to be up to a million by now. Roughly. It's one of those things. Especially right after it happened, I didn't sleep very good that night, for sure, but as it goes on you forget about it."
Now, he and his team are preparing for the possibility of separate futures. Smith says that he has no timeline on a driving decision but believes he will be running in the Cup ranks once more in 2009.
"[I'm] definitely confident I'll be in a Cup car," he said. "Don't know which one yet. But there's some good opportunities out there still. Whether it's something to do with the Earnhardt-Ganassi thing still, or if it's another organization, I think I can bring a lot to the table, and [I’m] definitely looking forward to getting to that second year and getting past the rookie curve."
Smith has already brought his company a new highlight. Smith is the first DEI driver to win the rookie title. That's saying quite a lot for a team that has developed drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr.
Now, that title has provided a bright spot in a dark time for some of the crew members who spent the season helping keep Smith in the field and in the race until its completion.
Smith felt it was important to celebrate it with them.
"It's a big deal to have those guys come here," he said. "… That's a tribute to these guys and how hard they worked. I wanted to have them here; they went through a lot in the past week. And actually a few of them that are here today have lost their jobs in the past week, but they still kept trucking along, went down to Homestead and put their best foot forward and the best effort that they could to try to get us the rookie championship."
Crew chief Dan Stillman said winning the rookie title is something that is helping the team through what has been a tough time.
"This helps a lot," he said. "It's really a bright spot. It's kind of kept everybody going this week. Everybody at the company is real happy for us and for Regan."
Mentioned Drivers: Regan Smith
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Comments
7 responses to "Cup rookie of the year Regan Smith still hoping to return in 2009". Post a Comment.
Sheldon Miller said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 3:21 PMGood guy and good racer - hope to see him in Cup in '09. Petty?
Kenneth Farley said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 4:10 PMKeep the faith, you've definately shown you have talent and courtesy, and that makes two good stars in your favor. Good luck next year.
James Mogseth said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 6:26 PMMaybe the Wood Bros. could set him up. That's the kind of driver they need there. Someone who is competitive, patient, and keeps the car on the track.
Truex and Sadler said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 6:44 PMI agree with the comments he would be a good pick up for either the Wood Brothers or Petty. He may not have that "pretty boy" personality the sponsors tend to gravitate towards but I do believe he is a solid driver who could do well with one of the open rides. I believe he is a much better driver than David Gilliland. Yates should take a look at him.
Sarah Oxfurth said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 9:07 PMWell, although I think NASCAR made the right call at Talladega, I think Regan is a good driver who deserves a ride and I think it sucks that DEI has screwed him. He should have been retained. Now Montoya-he can go suck eggs for all I care!
Werner Boehmert said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 9:20 PMwhat can you do when you can't get a sponsor for a driver...the media didn't really pay much attention to the rookies after Dario dropped out...awhile back Danny O'Quinn was rookie of the year in the Busch series, but couldn't come up with a sponsor so he was dropped...you need a good media person...
Andrew Briscoe said:
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:54 PMThe only way Regan will get a ride is if a sponsor wants him to drive their car. Since his season was rather disappointing and sponsors are not going to just throw millions at a guy who can't finish in the top-10 in this economy, he's going to have to be content with potentially not being in NASCAR next year, or being in a Truck or NW ride.