Smith Falls Short in Phoenix Qualifying

November 13, 2009

PHOENIX (Nov. 13, 2009) -- Regan Smith's bid to qualify for Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway came up short -- less than one-hundredth of a second.

"The car was loose and we just couldn't maximize the effort," said a disappointed Smith, who qualified ninth at the April race in Phoenix. "Our Furniture Row Racing team came to Phoenix feeling upbeat after what we accomplished here in the spring. No doubt, this was a shocker. But the lap times are so close that one little hiccup can knock you out, which it did to us. We'll bounce back -- this is a good team and I can't wait to show our stuff next week at Homestead/Miami Speedway."

Smith's No. 78 Chevy covered the one-mile Phoenix oval in 27.260 seconds at 132.062 miles per hour. He needed a lap time of 27.253 to qualify for Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Smith and the Furniture Row team have entered 19 races this season and have qualified in 17.

The Sprint Cup season finale is next week (Sunday, Nov. 22) at Homestead/Miami Speedway.

###