DENVER, Colo.– Though it’s an off week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the competitive juices were still flowing for Regan Smith, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Wednesday afternoon’s Colorado Rockies-Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball game at Coors Field.
The driver of the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team took his performance seriously as he warmed up prior to the game in the Coors Field parking lot.
“I wanted to make sure I got the ball across the plate and not have it hit the dirt,” said Smith. “I had more steam on the ball than I did last year, but it was still a little high. It was exciting to be on the field and having the opportunity to throw out the first pitch and to meet some of the Rockies players.”
As Smith calmly walked to the pitcher’s mound, wearing a Rockies purple jersey, he was introduced as the driver of Colorado’s only NASCAR team and was greeted with a friendly hometown applause. The applause continued after he hurled the baseball to Rockies’ catcher Wilin Rosario.
“I had a blast,” said Smith, who resides in the Denver area. “I want to thank the Rockies organization for the invitation and hope to be back next year so I can get the pitch a little lower.”
Following the ceremonial first pitch, Smith signed autographs during the first three innings in the main concourse of Coors Field.
Smith finally got to relax as he watched the Rockies slug it out with the Pirates in a game that saw six home runs. The Pirates ended up winning 9-6.
The next Sprint Cup Series race for Smith and his No. 78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet will be the Brickyard 400, July 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
