Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
2011 will be a year that Regan Smith will never forget for the rest of his life. The 27 year old Cato, New York driver accomplished so many amazing things with his sponsor-less Furniture Row Racing team. Quite often in the 2011 Sprint Cup season, Smith's black 78 car was outperforming teams with multimillion dollar sponsorships. On Mother's Day weekend at Darlington, Smith and his team were on top of the world.
Smith and his Furniture Row Chevy team started off the season on the right foot with a solid seventh place finish in the Daytona 500. Early on, Smith showed that his team was capable of putting fast cars on the track. Even though he wasn't finishing in the top 10, Smith was a regular contender all year long to place high in qualifying. Smith's first top five of the year came on what was a most magical night. Smith and the Furniture Row team beat the best of the best on what many feel is the hardest track on the schedule, winning the Showtime Southern 500 becoming the first driver since Lake Speed in 1988 to get their first win at the track that's "Too Tough To Tame". Smith's second and final top five of the year came at the Brickyard 400 where he placed a strong third. At season's end, Smith finished with 2 top 5s and 5 top 10s begging the question why a major sponsor hasn't jumped on board the #78 car.
Smith was on the ball this season when it came to avoiding NASCAR and penalties in the pits. Smith was penalized once all year long for speeding in the pits, in the 30th event at Kansas in the Hollywood Casino 400. Smith only made one other mistake in the next to last race of the season at Phoenix which was did not amount to much as Smith was well off the lead lap. The Furniture Row team only made a penalty mistake during a race one time in 2011, however the team made a rare mistake by not tightening the lug nuts on their driver's car prior to the start of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
2011 Statistics For Regan Smith
26th in Sprint Cup standings
1 win (Showtime Southern 500)
2 top 5s
5 top 10s
36 laps led
2011 Penalty Report For Regan Smith
Race 1 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end; Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 7 - Tire violation-Removing outside tire acceptable/Rolling a tire(s) beyond the center of pit road, pass thru; Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 12 - Lug nut(s) not installed, Must Come In; Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Transmission
Race 20 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 30 - Speed-Entering pits, Pass Thru
Race 33 - Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field; Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
Race 35 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage; Going above the blend line exiting the pits, pass thru