tool name
closeRegan Smith may join DEI
JIM UTTER
jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Thursday, Aug. 09, 2007
Regan Smith, who appeared to be left without a ride when Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged in recent weeks, may be back on track to join the Nextel Cup series fulltime.
Now that the Kyle Busch’s future is set at Joe Gibbs Racing next season, Smith has emerged as a candidate to join DEI as the organization’s fourth Cup driver next season.
“We think highly of Regan and are working with him on potential opportunities,” DEI vice president John Story said Tuesday.
Smith, 23, is already scheduled to drive DEI's No. 01 Chevrolet this weekend in Watkins Glen, N.Y., in place of Mark Martin and is also going to drive the car in the Sept. 16 race at New Hampshire, Story said.
Before the Ginn/DEI merger, Smith had split time this season with Martin in the No. 01 and was planning a fulltime move to Cup in 2008. Shortly after the announcement of his promotion, the merger took place and Smith was without a ride.
Should DEI bring Smith on board, DEI would consider reuniting Smith with the No. 01 team and move Martin and new protégé Aric Almirola to what is now the No. 8 team driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., sources said.
Earnhardt Jr. is leaving at the end of the season to join Hendrick Motorsports.