SONOMA, California — With the Pro Stock Motorcycle class sitting out the Seattle event of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series' Western Swing (Denver, Seattle, Sonoma, Calif.), Matt Smith is ready to get back on track at this weekend's FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.
Having spent the weekend off attending his sister's wedding and enjoying a lakeside retreat near his home in King, N.C., the rider of the Nitro Fish Suzuki for Don Schumacher Racing, winner in Sonoma in 2007, is eager to hit the quarter-mile again.
"We won here in 2007 and I would really like to do that in 2009 for Don Schumacher, Nitro Fish and Suzuki," said Smith, who joined DSR this season and is still seeking his first victory of the year. "Hopefully all of us can get our acts together, and the rider and the bike can jell and make the Nitro Fish Suzuki get down the track and take a victory.
"The biggest challenge racing in Sonoma is if it's hot here, it's a slow track, but if the air is really good, you could set records here. Especially if the tail wind comes in. I think even if we have a tailwind or a headwind, it can be really fast if the weather is good."
The ongoing challenge in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class continues to be competing against the dominant Harley-Davidsons. Smith is third in the point standings behind two Harleys. "We just have to go and do the best we can and see where we fall," added Smith, who had set a national elapsed-time record earlier this season, which was then eclipsed by a Harley rider. "We know they're going to be fast. Until NHRA does something, I guess we're just running for third place. No one is going to gain 50 horsepower. We may gain five or 10, but we're not going to gain 50 and that's what we're down right now."
MATT SMITH QUICK FACTS:
* No. 3 in PSM 2009 point standings, following runner-up finish in season opening Gainesville, Fla., event, semifinal finishes in Houston, Atlanta and Englishtown, and four quarterfinals
* Led the standings through two of the first three events
* Is 180 points behind leader Eddie Krawiec; 97 points behind second-place Andrew Hines
* Sonoma winner in 1997 (Eddie Krawiec)
* Qualified No. 3 in 2008 Sonoma, lost second round to Andrew Hines
* Set national elapsed-time record in Houston 2009 of 6.865 seconds. It has since been eclipsed
* Was No. 1 qualifier in Gainesville 2009
* 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 116-72 in 89 national events
* Career-best elapsed time: 6.865 seconds (Houston 2009)
* Career-best speed: 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, July 24 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4 and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 26 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Saturday, July 25, 12:30 - 1 a.m. (ET), Galaxy 18 / Transponder 23K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, July 25, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), Galaxy 18 / Transponder 23K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, July 26, 9 - 9:30 p.m. (ET), Galaxy 18 / Transponder 23K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
