Furniture Row, Smith to run season in 2010.

Furniture Row Racing has announced that it will run the full 36-race NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in 2010. The race team also announced that Regan Smith will continue to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet Impala SS next season.

The decision to return to a full-time schedule was based on the positive effect the race team along with NASCAR's popularity have had on the Furniture Row Companies marketing and advertising programs.

"Ever since Furniture Row Racing started its NASCAR venture four years ago, the race team has played a significant role in our national marketing, advertising and brand awareness programs," said Tom Faulkner, president of Furniture Row Companies.

"Due to the sudden economic downturn last fall it was decided to run a partial schedule in 2009. Even with the part-time schedule, the race team has continued to provide positive results for the company and we feel that it is important to our company's momentum to have a presence at all of the NASCAR Sprint Cup events in 2010."

The race team, which ran a full schedule in 2006, 2007 and 2008, also stated that it will continue to search for additional sponsorship partners, in the form of primary or associate to help with costs and possibly grow the race team.

"We are obviously excited about the future of Furniture Row Racing," said team general manager Joe Garone. "We feel we have taken a major step this season from a competitive standpoint and look forward to acquiring additional sponsorship funds so we can become one of NASCAR's elite and contending teams."

Garone added, "Being the only team located west of the Mississippi provides some key advantages. Colorado brings a different landscape into play for workers who find themselves ready for change, and having a top equipped Sprint Cup team in Denver allows people to perform their specialized work in the outstanding Colorado environment."

"I am thrilled to continue my association with Furniture Row Racing," said 25-year-old Smith, who was the 2008 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year. "We've made great headway as a part-time team this season and we all look forward to reaching a new level in 2010. Furniture Row Racing is committed to providing the necessary resources to be competitive on a weekly basis."

The No. 78 Furniture Row team was originally scheduled to compete in 12 races in 2009. Four additional races have been added to the schedule, including Saturday night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway. According to Garone, there is a good possibility of adding more races.

So far in the 2009 season, Smith has qualified in every one of the 11 races he has entered in the Furniture Row Chevy. Smith has posted six top-22 finishes with his best results of 12th at the July Daytona race and 15th at Talladega in April.