Smith looking to gain ground during rookie season

NASCAR driver Regan Smith tested a Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet at Kentucky Speedway this week in preparation for Smith's rookie season in Sprint Cup next year.

Smith will be part of a four-car DEI team next year, joining Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard, Mark Martin and Aric Almirola. Martin and Almirola will share one of the team's cars.

Smith joined Ginn Racing in 2007, running the full Busch Series schedule before the team merged with DEI. He ran seven Nextel Cup races and 17 Busch races this year.

"I think I picked up a lot [this season]," Smith said. "I got a lot of races in and completed most of the laps in those races. I tried not to tear up equipment - that was one of the first goals - and I accomplished that for the most part with the exception of Watkins Glen.

"All of my [Cup] races were car of tomorrow races except for Talladega, and that's a totally different beast anyway. There's a lot I'll be able to transfer to the upcoming season and a lot of new stuff I've learned since I've been with the DEI guys. We're all going to be learning as we go with the car and with me being a rookie driver, but everything is going really well so far."

Smith was originally splitting time with Martin in the No. 01 Chevrolet before plans changed.

"I have a really good relationship with Mark," Smith said. "I respect him a lot and what he's done throughout his career a ton. Not only am I going to still be able to work with him, I'll actually be able to work with him at the race track. When I was racing last year, he wasn't there. This year, he'll be there for 26 races, so I'll be able to see him after practices. There will be a lot of unknowns for all of us and I'll be able to go talk to him.

"Likewise, Martin, who has been on fire lately, and Paul now have a couple years of Sprint Cup experience under their belts and I'll be able to go get information from them."

Smith faces a strong rookie contingent next season, including open-wheel stars Jacques Villeneuve, Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr.

"I think [the] rookie of the year [award] is a must for me," Smith said. "I want that title. I look at it and it's all open-wheel guys. I want to carry the stock car banner and keep that going strong.

"If we can go out and get top-fives and top-10s by the end of the year, consistently try to run up front, get good experience and finish races - those will be the biggest things.

"If we happen to get a win a some point, that would be great. Obviously, you want to win a race when you start the season. Anybody who doesn't want to do that doesn't need to be out there. In reality, I'm going to have a lot that I'm learning at the same time I'm racing, so we want to get progressively better each weekend. If we do that, it will be a successful year."

• Mentioned Drivers:
• Aric Almirola