It will be a homecoming of sorts for Regan Smith at this weekend’s Nextel Cup event at Watkins Glen International. The 23-year-old driver will not only compete near the area where he grew up, but he will also rejoin his teammates on the #01 U.S. Army team. Smith, who was raised in Cato, N.Y., approximately 75 miles north from the Watkins Glen road course, will drive the #01 Chevrolet in Sunday’s race. It will be his first Cup event under the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. racing banner. It will also be a New York, New York tandem for the #01 team. Smith’s crew chief, Ryan Pemberton,- is also a New York native. His hometown is Saratoga Springs, located 225 miles east of Watkins Glen. This will be the sixth career Cup start for Smith, who has shared the #01 Army ride with Mark Martin this season. Smith’s last Cup start was July 1 at New Hampshire. Smith was also behind the wheel of the Army car at the only other Cup road race of the season, June 24 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. He started 26th and finished 30th.(DEI PR)(8-7-2007)
