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Regan Smith focused on Xfinity crown, where he’ll race in 2016

Zippo 200 - Qualifying

WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 08: Regan Smith, driver of the #7 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International on August 8, 2015 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

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From this point on, it will be a case of two seasons for Regan Smith.

The first season is the current Xfinity Series slate. With 11 races left, Smith is ranked fourth in the standings, 51 points behind series leader Chris Buescher, heading into Saturday’s Road America 180 Fired Up By Johnsonville.

Smith is not giving up in his bid to win his first Xfinity championship.

“I think we’re still in it, we’re racing like we’re still in it and the mindset is to go out and do everything we can to lead laps and win races,” Smith said Friday at Road America. “If you do that, you close up on points quicker than you can even imagine.

“Our mission has to be to stay ahead of (Buescher) and when the opportunities present, take advantage of them.”

But there’s another season that also is on Smith’s mind: whether he remains with JR Motorsports for 2016 or returns to the Sprint Cup Series.

“We’re working hard every day to figure out 2016,” Smith said. “I think I’ve been clear for the better part of 2 ½ years that I want to get back to Sprint Cup and do that at some point.

“I’m fortunate to be in fast race cars at JR Motorsports right now and have an amazing opportunity here and definitely don’t take that for granted.

“At the same time, I want to give myself the opportunity to get back to the other series and as soon as all that stuff plays out and I have answers, then I’ll give them as soon as I can.”

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