UPDATE: JR Motorsports announced it has reached an agreement with Regan Smith to drive the team’s #5 NASCAR Nationwide Series entry full time in 2013. General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said Smith will make his JRM debut this year, as the company will field three teams for the Nov. 17 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Smith will join teammates Cole Whitt and Danica Patrick in the season finale. Smith has not competed in the Nationwide Series since 2007 when he tallied three top-fives, five top-10s, and a pole award at Kentucky Speedway. Smith’s #5 Chevy, to date, is the only JRM entry cemented for a full-season slate in 2013. Earnhardt Miller said the goal of the organization is still to run two full-time teams the #5 and #7 with addition to Earnhardt Jr. competing in select Nationwide Series races in the #88 car. ‘We feel it is important for our sponsors, our fans, and even Dale to keep his Nationwide Series number consistent with his Cup number’ Earnhardt Miller said. ‘His brand is associated with the #88. That’s what makes him distinguishable on the race track, so it’s only natural that he drives the #88 all the time. To do that, we are making our #5 Chevy our full-time entry. We hope to have Cole in the #7 full time in 2013, and we are working hard on securing sponsorship for that.(JR Motorsports)(10-24-2012)
JR Motorsports looking at Regan Smith for 2013: UPDATE:
UPDATE: JR Motorsports announced it has reached an agreement with Regan Smith to drive the team’s #5 NASCAR Nationwide Series entry full time in 2013. General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said Smith will make his JRM debut this year, as the company will field three teams for the Nov. 17 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Smith will join teammates Cole Whitt and Danica Patrick in the season finale. Smith has not competed in the Nationwide Series since 2007 when he tallied three top-fives, five top-10s, and a pole award at Kentucky Speedway. Smith’s #5 Chevy, to date, is the only JRM entry cemented for a full-season slate in 2013. Earnhardt Miller said the goal of the organization is still to run two full-time teams the #5 and #7 with addition to Earnhardt Jr. competing in select Nationwide Series races in the #88 car. ‘We feel it is important for our sponsors, our fans, and even Dale to keep his Nationwide Series number consistent with his Cup number’ Earnhardt Miller said. ‘His brand is associated with the #88. That’s what makes him distinguishable on the race track, so it’s only natural that he drives the #88 all the time. To do that, we are making our #5 Chevy our full-time entry. We hope to have Cole in the #7 full time in 2013, and we are working hard on securing sponsorship for that.(JR Motorsports)(10-24-2012)