[coverattach=1]KING , N.C. (June 2, 2009) - It's been a month since the last Pro Stock Motorcycle event of the 17 that are contested in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series was held, and Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki rider Matt Smith is ready to get back on his mount and go for his first win of the season at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals this weekend.
Smith is currently second in the point standings, with one final round, two semifinal finishes and a season round-win record of 8-4 under his belt. He's been a frontrunner at each of the four events run so far and can taste that first victory for Don Schumacher Racing, the team he joined this season.
A test session today at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indiana, continuing development of the Suzuki engine, and an NHRA rules change for the dominant Harley-Davidsons should help the cause.
"We're looking forward to this weekend's event in Joliet, Ill.," said Smith, the 2007 runner-up at Route 66 Raceway. "We're getting ready to test here in Indy today and try to get some things ready for Joliet.
"Route 66 Raceway is Don Schumacher's home track. He lives near Chicago and, of course, Schumacher Electric is located outside of Chicago. We're putting forth an effort to try to win this race for Don and the team, just like we do every race, but winning this one would be a little bit more special."
As for the Harleys getting 20 pounds added to them beginning at this weekend's event, "It's great," said Smith. "They needed 20 pounds on them. They might need more than that, but we'll have to wait and see what happens. They were really beating up on everybody on the back half of the quarter-mile track. It probably won't slow them down enough, but it's going to put everybody a lot closer.
"I'm so glad that NHRA finally stepped up. It's been three years since they've done anything with the Harleys. I applaud the NHRA for doing that, and I'm glad they're trying to keep the class equal with all the brands out there.
"I've been off the bike for a while, and I'm ready to get back on and go fast."
MATT SMITH QUICK FACTS:
* No. 2 in PSM 2009 point standings, following runner-up finish in season opening Gainesville, Fla., event, semifinal finishes in Houston and Atlanta and one quarterfinal
* Is 16 points behind leader Eddie Krawiec
* Set national elapsed-time record in Houston 2009 of 6.865 seconds. It has since been eclipsed
* Was No. 1 qualifier in Gainesville 2009
* Route 66 runner-up in 2007 to Andrew Hines
* Qualified No. 4 in Joliet in 2008, lost first round to Shawn Gann
* Won 2007 PSM championship, winning four races in nine final rounds
* Was No. 1 seed in 2008 NHRA PSM playoffs, earning 20-point bonus
* No. 3 in 2008 PSM point standings
* Came close to claiming his second straight PSM crown in 2008 after leading the standings for the last six of seven events in the playoffs. A mechanical problem in the final event of the season dropped him to third
* Collected a career-high seven No. 1 qualifiers in 2008
* Debuted in the PSM class in Gainesville, Fla., in 2004
* Is the son of NHRA Pro Stock racer Rickie Smith
* Has 10 career national-event wins in 21 final rounds, and was low qualifier 15 times since joining the class on a limited basis in 2003
* Became a full-time competitor in the class in 2005
* Career round win-loss record is 111-68 in 85 national events
* Career-best elapsed time: 6.865 seconds (Houston 2009)
* Career-best seed: 194.63 mph (Atlanta 2009)
* Lives in King, N.C. - single - engaged to fellow PSM rider Angie McBride
* Born Nov. 11, 1972
* Son Tristan (9/12/96)
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, June 5 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 6 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 3:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 7 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10:30 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations at 4 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, June 5, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
(Analog feed) Saturday, June 6, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, June 7, 730 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 11K (11760 MHz, vertical)
Smith is currently second in the point standings, with one final round, two semifinal finishes and a season round-win record of 8-4 under his belt. He's been a frontrunner at each of the four events run so far and can taste that first victory for Don Schumacher Racing, the team he joined this season.
A test session today at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indiana, continuing development of the Suzuki engine, and an NHRA rules change for the dominant Harley-Davidsons should help the cause.
"We're looking forward to this weekend's event in Joliet, Ill.," said Smith, the 2007 runner-up at Route 66 Raceway. "We're getting ready to test here in Indy today and try to get some things ready for Joliet.
"Route 66 Raceway is Don Schumacher's home track. He lives near Chicago and, of course, Schumacher Electric is located outside of Chicago. We're putting forth an effort to try to win this race for Don and the team, just like we do every race, but winning this one would be a little bit more special."
As for the Harleys getting 20 pounds added to them beginning at this weekend's event, "It's great," said Smith. "They needed 20 pounds on them. They might need more than that, but we'll have to wait and see what happens. They were really beating up on everybody on the back half of the quarter-mile track. It probably won't slow them down enough, but it's going to put everybody a lot closer.
"I'm so glad that NHRA finally stepped up. It's been three years since they've done anything with the Harleys. I applaud the NHRA for doing that, and I'm glad they're trying to keep the class equal with all the brands out there.
"I've been off the bike for a while, and I'm ready to get back on and go fast."
MATT SMITH QUICK FACTS:
* No. 2 in PSM 2009 point standings, following runner-up finish in season opening Gainesville, Fla., event, semifinal finishes in Houston and Atlanta and one quarterfinal
* Is 16 points behind leader Eddie Krawiec
* Set national elapsed-time record in Houston 2009 of 6.865 seconds. It has since been eclipsed
* Was No. 1 qualifier in Gainesville 2009
* Route 66 runner-up in 2007 to Andrew Hines
* Qualified No. 4 in Joliet in 2008, lost first round to Shawn Gann
* Won 2007 PSM championship, winning four races in nine final rounds
* Was No. 1 seed in 2008 NHRA PSM playoffs, earning 20-point bonus
* No. 3 in 2008 PSM point standings
* Came close to claiming his second straight PSM crown in 2008 after leading the standings for the last six of seven events in the playoffs. A mechanical problem in the final event of the season dropped him to third
* Collected a career-high seven No. 1 qualifiers in 2008
* Debuted in the PSM class in Gainesville, Fla., in 2004
* Is the son of NHRA Pro Stock racer Rickie Smith
* Has 10 career national-event wins in 21 final rounds, and was low qualifier 15 times since joining the class on a limited basis in 2003
* Became a full-time competitor in the class in 2005
* Career round win-loss record is 111-68 in 85 national events
* Career-best elapsed time: 6.865 seconds (Houston 2009)
* Career-best seed: 194.63 mph (Atlanta 2009)
* Lives in King, N.C. - single - engaged to fellow PSM rider Angie McBride
* Born Nov. 11, 1972
* Son Tristan (9/12/96)
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, June 5 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 6 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 3:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 7 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10:30 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations at 4 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, June 5, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
(Analog feed) Saturday, June 6, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, June 7, 730 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 11K (11760 MHz, vertical)
