MOORESVILLE – Regan Smith is well versed in driving Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s cars.
Smith subbed for the injured Earnhardt for two NASCAR Sprint Cup races in October. His upcoming start in the Ford EcoBoost 300 Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be the first time Smith drives the No. 5 Chevy owned by Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports Nationwide Series team.
Smith informed reporters of the possibility of driving for JRM in mid-October.
Rick Hendrick, a part owner of JRM and Earnhardt’s Sprint Cup car owner, said he was considering hiring Smith.
“If Mr. H said it, usually what Mr. H says is the gospel,” Smith said at the time.
Smith will pilot the No. 5 car for Mooresville-based JRM in an attempt to win the 2013 Nationwide title.
He’ll also race in the Ford EcoBoost 400 Nov. 18 for Phoenix Racing.
Local drivers in hunt for Truck title
MOORESVILLE – Two drivers who call Mooresville home are the top-ranked drivers in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings with one race to go.
Points leader James Buescher leads Timothy Peters by 11 points entering the Ford EcoBoost 200 Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Buescher clinches his first NASCAR title with a finish of seventh or better with no laps led, eighth or better with one lap led or ninth or better with the most laps led.
Coverage for the Ford EcoBoost 200 begins at 8 p.m. Nov. 16 on SPEED Channel.
Jeffrey Earnhardt back in Nationwide field
MOORESVILLE – Mooresville High alumnus Jeffrey Earnhardt will make his first NASCAR start since Oct. 12 when the Nationwide Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Earnhardt will drive the No. 08 Uponor Ford for Randy Hill Racing in the Ford EcoBoost 300 on Nov. 17.
Homestead marks the sixth Nationwide start of the season for Earnhardt, the 23-year-old grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and the nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt’s best finish in his first five races of the 2012 season was a 21st-place result at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 28.
Coverage for the Ford EcoBoost 300 begins at 4 p.m. Nov. 17 on ESPN2.
Charlotte Motor Speedway to host tests
CONCORD – The Chevy, Ford and Toyota models to be used for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season will get some extra testing.
NASCAR announced Dec. 11-12 and Jan. 17-18 as test dates at Charlotte Motor Speedway for teams looking to get some extra time with the new cars.
Chevrolet debuts its SS model, while Ford brings an updated Fusion to the table. Toyota will roll out an updated Camry for 2013.
Sprint Cup teams have an allotment of four yearly tests per organization that can be used at any track the series visits, but the Charlotte tests won’t count against the cap.
Teams have already tested the new cars at Talladega Superspeedway, Kansas Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. Those tests didn’t count against the testing cap.
– Compiled by Aaron Burns
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