Smith Makes it Two in a Row at Denver
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/M_Smith_831831.jpg" alt="M_Smith_831831" align="left"borders="0"/>
Defending POWERade Champ and defending race winner, Matt Smith set the bar high this past weekend at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado.
After qualifying number one and winning the race last year, Smith wanted to try and pull it off again in 2008. Going into qualifying, Smith had a few problems during Friday’s runs, however the Nitrofish Wear S&S Buell rider nailed the setup on Saturday afternoon. Running the quickest elapse time (7.331) during the fourth session, Smith qualified his Buell in the third position as he headed into raceday on Sunday.
Having to face off against the most recent Pro Stock Motorcycle race winner, Hector Arana first round, then the teammates of Matt Guidera and Peggy Llewellyn in the second and third round, Smith worked his way into his 17th career final.
Having to run the ever-so-quick Steve Johnson in the final round, Smith knew he would have to cut a good light and make a great run, and that he did. With an amazing .005 reaction time and running a 7.326et at 180.74mph, Smith won his second event of the year and the eighth of his career.
“Man, that was awesome,” said Smith. “We struggled in qualifying the last few days and didn’t even really make a run until the last session, so I was a little timid going into Sunday. The lights are real tight up here as well, so I was a little cautious earlier today on the track, but I knew I was going to have to turn it up a notch and it worked out for us in the end. I’m so excited that we won. I feel like it has been forever. I mean, this class is so tough right now, so to win this race is just the greatest feeling. My little boy is here too, so that makes it real cool.”
With Smith winning his second race in a row at Denver he moved himself into the second position in the POWERade Championship point standings.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/M_Smith_831831.jpg" alt="M_Smith_831831" align="left"borders="0"/>
Defending POWERade Champ and defending race winner, Matt Smith set the bar high this past weekend at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado.
After qualifying number one and winning the race last year, Smith wanted to try and pull it off again in 2008. Going into qualifying, Smith had a few problems during Friday’s runs, however the Nitrofish Wear S&S Buell rider nailed the setup on Saturday afternoon. Running the quickest elapse time (7.331) during the fourth session, Smith qualified his Buell in the third position as he headed into raceday on Sunday.
Having to face off against the most recent Pro Stock Motorcycle race winner, Hector Arana first round, then the teammates of Matt Guidera and Peggy Llewellyn in the second and third round, Smith worked his way into his 17th career final.
Having to run the ever-so-quick Steve Johnson in the final round, Smith knew he would have to cut a good light and make a great run, and that he did. With an amazing .005 reaction time and running a 7.326et at 180.74mph, Smith won his second event of the year and the eighth of his career.
“Man, that was awesome,” said Smith. “We struggled in qualifying the last few days and didn’t even really make a run until the last session, so I was a little timid going into Sunday. The lights are real tight up here as well, so I was a little cautious earlier today on the track, but I knew I was going to have to turn it up a notch and it worked out for us in the end. I’m so excited that we won. I feel like it has been forever. I mean, this class is so tough right now, so to win this race is just the greatest feeling. My little boy is here too, so that makes it real cool.”
With Smith winning his second race in a row at Denver he moved himself into the second position in the POWERade Championship point standings.
