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BUSCH: Bristol: Regan Smith preview

Bristol, TN (March 23, 2004) -- Last season in his only start to date at the Bristol Motor Speedway, young Regan Smith was involved in an early spin with Kerry Earnhardt. After getting back on track, Michael Waltrip hit him from behind, ending his ...

Edited: Apr 16, 2008, 12:40 AM

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Bristol, TN (March 23, 2004) -- Last season in his only start to date at the Bristol Motor Speedway, young Regan Smith was involved in an early spin with Kerry Earnhardt. After getting back on track, Michael Waltrip hit him from behind, ending his day. However, Smith walked away from the incident with more understanding on how to race a track like Bristol as well as the series' veterans.

"I think last year, it was my first race and I was still getting adjusted to the Busch races in general. It was one of those deals where I should have been out of the way but at the same time, been given more patience. We talked about it at Texas and everything was cool," he says of his incident with Waltrip.

This time around the 20-year-old is ready to take on "the world's fastest half-mile," with a vengeance. The 2004 season has started off slower than he and his Mac Hill Motorsports team had planned. But the driver of the #56 Chevrolet says the team has been working hard and he is ready to race. In fact, the team repaired their damaged Rockingham machine and packed it up for the Bristol run.

"It's not an aero track like we had last week," Smith says of Bristol in comparison to Darlington's one-mile-plus facility where he tallied a disappointing 30th place run. "The car was not good during the race so the guys have been working this week to find a better balance to find what fits my driving style and what suits me. Bristol is a track that relates to my driving style, a short track and I ran okay there last year so I'm ready to go."

Bristol stats:

-Smith has one career start at the Bristol Motor Speedway (March 24, 2003). He started the race in the 20th position but ended up 38th.

Random Notes:

-Smith is making his fourth start with Mac Hill Motorsports.

-Smith has 21 career NASCAR Busch Series starts, dating back to 2002.

-Smith and the Mac Hill Motorsports team are powered by Hutter Engines.

-Smith also has stock experience in the Craftsman Truck Series and the USAR ProCup Series. He holds the USAR record for the most poles in a row with four in 2001.

2003 NASCAR Busch Series:

- Races: Made 18 starts last season.

-Finishes: 4 top-20 finishes including a 15th-place career best at Texas.

-Qualifying: 3 top-20 starts including a 14th-place qualifying effort at Nazareth.

-Ran the quickest time in practice at Kentucky.

-Made Busch debut in 2002 in Memphis, qualifying 15th.

For even more information on this talented 20-year-old, please visit www.regansmith.com.

The Sharpie Professional 250 will be shown LIVE on FX at 1 P.M. EST.

-mhm-

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