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Regan Smith, who most recently substituted for Dale Earnhardt Jr., will be driving for the JR Motorsports team in the Nationwide Series.
Smith, who started the year as full-time driver for Furniture Row Racing, had been replaced by Kurt Busch. Coincidentally, Smith had been driving for the James Finch team which had a vacant seat after Busch signed with Furniture row. Smith had driven for Dale Earnhardt Inc, and was Rookie of the Year in 2008.
General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said Smith will make his JRM debut this year, as the company will field three teams for the Nov. 17 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Regan Smith will join teammates Cole Whitt and Danica Patrick in the season finale.
In a statement Smith said: "This is an extremely good opportunity for m. Dale Jr. and I first started talking about this several years ago, but the timing never matched up to where we could make it happen. Now it's time. I'm happy to be a part of this organization. I don't want to just win races. I want to be the team that dominates races and contends for the championship."
"Regan has always impressed me," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. "He gets the most of his car, no matter what he's driving or who he's driving for. He takes care of his cars and gets good finishes. With his experience and ability, we feel he can excel in our equipment. He has a super personality, and his ability to work with everyone here at JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports will be important in getting us back to the winner's circle."
After this year Danica Patrick's contract is up leaving Smith as the only driver signed for 2013.
At the present time Cole Whitt doesn't have a deal for his #88 Chevrolet for next year, but, the management team is trying to fund sponsorship for that drive.
“We feel it is important for our sponsors, our fans, and even Dale to keep his Nationwide Series number consistent with his Cup number,” Earnhardt Miller said. “His brand is associated with the No. 88. That's what makes him distinguishable on the race track, so it's only natural that he drives the No. 88 all the time. To do that, we are making our No. 5 Chevrolet our full-time entry. We hope to have Cole in the No. 7 full time in 2013, and we are working hard on securing sponsorship for that.”
"It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for me, but it's been great," Smith said. "Filling in for Dale Jr. was an honor, and it got me acclimated to the Hendrick Motorsports group, which obviously JR Motorsports works with hand in hand. I was glad to fill in for Dale Jr., and I'm happy that he's back in his race car this week at Martinsville."
Smith, who started the year as full-time driver for Furniture Row Racing, had been replaced by Kurt Busch. Coincidentally, Smith had been driving for the James Finch team which had a vacant seat after Busch signed with Furniture row. Smith had driven for Dale Earnhardt Inc, and was Rookie of the Year in 2008.
General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said Smith will make his JRM debut this year, as the company will field three teams for the Nov. 17 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Regan Smith will join teammates Cole Whitt and Danica Patrick in the season finale.
In a statement Smith said: "This is an extremely good opportunity for m. Dale Jr. and I first started talking about this several years ago, but the timing never matched up to where we could make it happen. Now it's time. I'm happy to be a part of this organization. I don't want to just win races. I want to be the team that dominates races and contends for the championship."
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| Regan Smith in Dale Earnahrdt Jr.'s car. (Photo: NASCAR) |
"Regan has always impressed me," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. "He gets the most of his car, no matter what he's driving or who he's driving for. He takes care of his cars and gets good finishes. With his experience and ability, we feel he can excel in our equipment. He has a super personality, and his ability to work with everyone here at JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports will be important in getting us back to the winner's circle."
After this year Danica Patrick's contract is up leaving Smith as the only driver signed for 2013.
At the present time Cole Whitt doesn't have a deal for his #88 Chevrolet for next year, but, the management team is trying to fund sponsorship for that drive.
“We feel it is important for our sponsors, our fans, and even Dale to keep his Nationwide Series number consistent with his Cup number,” Earnhardt Miller said. “His brand is associated with the No. 88. That's what makes him distinguishable on the race track, so it's only natural that he drives the No. 88 all the time. To do that, we are making our No. 5 Chevrolet our full-time entry. We hope to have Cole in the No. 7 full time in 2013, and we are working hard on securing sponsorship for that.”
"It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for me, but it's been great," Smith said. "Filling in for Dale Jr. was an honor, and it got me acclimated to the Hendrick Motorsports group, which obviously JR Motorsports works with hand in hand. I was glad to fill in for Dale Jr., and I'm happy that he's back in his race car this week at Martinsville."