Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

One Hit Wonder: Regan Smith

Written by 
Published in Racing
Tuesday, 12 May 2020 10:04

One hundred ninety-three drivers have won races in the NASCAR Cup Series. Of those drivers, 61 won only one race.

We’re diving into the National Speed Sport News archives to look back at some of these one-hit wonders and the races they won.

Many would argue that Regan Smith’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory should have come in 2008 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

On that day at the 2.66-mile track, Smith got to the finish line first. However, NASCAR deemed his pass of Tony Stewart was illegal because he dipped below the yellow line on the bottom of the speedway.

As a result, Smith was credited with finishing 18th despite being the first competitor across the finish line in his No. 01 Chevrolet, and Stewart was declared the winner.

Fast-forward to May 7, 2011 and Smith was driving for the underdog Furniture Row Racing team as the NASCAR Cup Series circuit visited Darlington (S.C.) Raceway for the running of the Southern 500.

It was pit strategy call that pave Smith’s road to victory lane at one of NASCAR’s most challenging race tracks.

Smith remained on the race track when the leaders pitted for fresh tires following the 10th yellow flag of the race with 10 laps remaining. Carl Edwards was in the lead when the yellow flag waved and was one of many drivers to take on two tires while Smith, Brad Keselowski and Stewart did not pit.

The race resumed with five laps to go, but the yellow flag waved one lap later after Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer raced off the fourth turn three wide and Bowyer spun into the inside wall after contact between Busch and Harvick sent Harvick into Bowyer.

On the green-white-checkered restart, Smith pulled away from Edwards, who quickly closed the gap. But when Smith bounced off the second-turn wall on the final lap, Edwards cracked the throttle on his Roush Fenway Ford and Smith had the break he needed to drive his No. 78 Chevrolet to victory.

Not only was it the first triumph for Smith, but it was the first for the Denver, Colo., based team, which was one of the lower-budget NASCAR Cup Series teams at the time.

“These guys have stuck behind me for three years now and we have had some major ups and downs and this would be classified as a major up,” said Smith. “Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) made a great call there.

“We had a fast car, we just needed the track position. This is the Southern 500. Legends win this race, I’m not supposed to win this race.”

While the victory was the first of many for Furniture Row Racing, it was the only victory of Smith’s 224 NASCAR Cup Series starts. He did find success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, winning six races between 2012 and ’16, but he never again stood at the top of the mountain at NASCAR’s top level.

Smith continues to make occasional starts in the Xfinity Series while also working as a pit reporter for FOX Sports during NASCAR broadcasts.

Read 280 times

Soccer

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPep Guardiola said Manchester City are in for a "tough" season afte...

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- For 75 minutes on Tuesday night, Manchester...

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

Bayern Munich battled past 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to Kim Min-...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tues...

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFree-agent forward Jae Crowder is close to a deal with the Sacramen...

Baseball

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJeff Hoffman is one of the most sought-after relievers in this offs...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated