<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/Nitro_Funny_Car_driver_and_tuner_Mike_Smith1.jpg" alt="Nitro_Funny_Car_driver_and_tuner_Mike_Smith1" align="left"borders="0"/>
EPPING, NH, post-race: Mike Smith raced to a surprise runner-up finish in Nitro Funny Car on Sunday at the IHRA North American Nationals at New England Dragway. Smith advanced to his first career Funny Car final round but mechanical gremlins kept him from making a run in the final round.
Smith entered Sunday's eliminations from the No. 3 qualifying position on the strength of his first run on Saturday, a 5.429 at 270.59 mph, which had temporarily qualified him second. The National Tire & Battery/Paul Richards Racing Nitro Funny Car returned for the night session and Smith performed a monster burnout to half-track that brought a roar of approval from the huge crowd on hand at New England Dragway. Smith left the starting line hard on second attempt but clicked it off early and returned to the pits to prepare for Sunday. The Florida native dropped one qualifying spot from the first session but remained in the top half of the eight-car field.
The weather on Sunday was hot by New Hampshire standards with temperatures in the mid-80 degree range and a high cloud cover. The National Tire & Battery Nitro Funny Car was paired up against Jeff Diehl in round one and Smith, who owned lane choice, chose the left lane. Both cars left the starting line together but Diehl smoked the tires before the 330-foot mark and Smith drove to his first career Funny Car round victory with a 5.568 at 218.55 mph.
"The National Tire & Battery car was on a good run," said Smith afterward, "but we suffered clutch failure around the 1,000-foot mark and that's why the performance fell off on the top end. We have a lot of friends here and my Dad has come over to help so we'll be ready for the semifinals."
Smith squared off against No. 1 qualifier Bob Gilbertson in the semis. Smith was actually a crewman on Gilbertson's car several years ago when his father, Paul Smith, served as Gilbertson's crew chief.
Smith was back in the familiar left lane against Gilbertson and it turned out to be fortunate for the NTB Nitro Funny Car. Smith had the better reaction time off the starting line and Gilbertson smoked the tires as the National Tires & Battery car streaked away for the win. Smith made his best run of the weekend with a 5.346 at 275.73 mph to advance to his first career Funny Car final round. He also earned lane choice over defending IHRA champion Dale Creasy in the money round.
The Paul Richards Racing team performed a mad trash in the pit area to prepare their car for the final round. Smith rolled to the starting line just in time to make his run against Creasy, but without a chance to warm up the motor in the pit area. After he made his burnout and rolled back to the starting line, Smith was unable to get the car back into forward gear and was forced to shut off and watch Creasy make a single run for the event victory.
"We had a great weekend with the debut of National Tire & Battery car," said Smith after the race. "We're very proud to have made it to the final round and I hope our performance here at Epping will help us secure some additional funding. I want to thank all of the people who supported us and helped us out this weekend. Hopefully, we'll be back soon."
PHOTO BY BILL WALTERS
Mike Smith earns runner-up finish at the North American Nationals
EPPING, NH, post-race: Mike Smith raced to a surprise runner-up finish in Nitro Funny Car on Sunday at the IHRA North American Nationals at New England Dragway. Smith advanced to his first career Funny Car final round but mechanical gremlins kept him from making a run in the final round.
Smith entered Sunday's eliminations from the No. 3 qualifying position on the strength of his first run on Saturday, a 5.429 at 270.59 mph, which had temporarily qualified him second. The National Tire & Battery/Paul Richards Racing Nitro Funny Car returned for the night session and Smith performed a monster burnout to half-track that brought a roar of approval from the huge crowd on hand at New England Dragway. Smith left the starting line hard on second attempt but clicked it off early and returned to the pits to prepare for Sunday. The Florida native dropped one qualifying spot from the first session but remained in the top half of the eight-car field.
The weather on Sunday was hot by New Hampshire standards with temperatures in the mid-80 degree range and a high cloud cover. The National Tire & Battery Nitro Funny Car was paired up against Jeff Diehl in round one and Smith, who owned lane choice, chose the left lane. Both cars left the starting line together but Diehl smoked the tires before the 330-foot mark and Smith drove to his first career Funny Car round victory with a 5.568 at 218.55 mph.
"The National Tire & Battery car was on a good run," said Smith afterward, "but we suffered clutch failure around the 1,000-foot mark and that's why the performance fell off on the top end. We have a lot of friends here and my Dad has come over to help so we'll be ready for the semifinals."
Smith squared off against No. 1 qualifier Bob Gilbertson in the semis. Smith was actually a crewman on Gilbertson's car several years ago when his father, Paul Smith, served as Gilbertson's crew chief.
Smith was back in the familiar left lane against Gilbertson and it turned out to be fortunate for the NTB Nitro Funny Car. Smith had the better reaction time off the starting line and Gilbertson smoked the tires as the National Tires & Battery car streaked away for the win. Smith made his best run of the weekend with a 5.346 at 275.73 mph to advance to his first career Funny Car final round. He also earned lane choice over defending IHRA champion Dale Creasy in the money round.
The Paul Richards Racing team performed a mad trash in the pit area to prepare their car for the final round. Smith rolled to the starting line just in time to make his run against Creasy, but without a chance to warm up the motor in the pit area. After he made his burnout and rolled back to the starting line, Smith was unable to get the car back into forward gear and was forced to shut off and watch Creasy make a single run for the event victory.
"We had a great weekend with the debut of National Tire & Battery car," said Smith after the race. "We're very proud to have made it to the final round and I hope our performance here at Epping will help us secure some additional funding. I want to thank all of the people who supported us and helped us out this weekend. Hopefully, we'll be back soon."
PHOTO BY BILL WALTERS
