PORTER SMITH STANDS ATOP THE PODIUM AT ALTAMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK

Source: Porter Smith Media Relations/mm
Date: 07/03/2008

Kaplan-Gennuso Racing driver Porter Smith collected an important victory this past weekend at the United States Auto Club (USAC) Western States Sprint Cars event at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, California. Smith moved from his seventh place qualifying position to take the checkers in the 50 lap main event.

After qualifying seventh with a lap time of 16.930, Smith found himself with some work to do if he wanted to challenge for the victory. The young pilot tried to advance forward but after contact with another car was relegated to the tail of the field.

Starting from the outside front row, the multi-time race winner fell into line behind the pole sitter when the green flag flew. With a fast car that was handling incredibly well, Smith chose to follow behind the leader and try and force him into a mistake.

“I knew that my car was much quicker than the leaders,” explained Smith after the event. “I was able to enter the corners better than he was and actually had to get on the brakes to avoid hitting him. It was slowing my overall lap time down, but I knew that I would be able to have a shot at the win.”

While running with the leader, Smith began to receive pressure from his teammate running in the third position. Due to the fact that Smith had to check up from hitting the leader, his teammate also had to do so but on a few occasions got into the back of Porter.

“On lap 27 I got into the back of the leader,” stated the eventual race winner. “I didn’t mean to but it sent him up the track and gave me the opportunity to sneak by. From here I took the lead and was unchallenged to the checkered flag.”

With the result, the Ron Sutton Winners Circle Development Driver and his teammate scored the first one-two finish of the season for the Kaplan-Gennuso Racing squad as well as matching their win total from the 2007 racing season.

"Porter is a winner, plain and simple,” explained Ron Sutton, owner of Ron Sutton’s Winner Circle. “He has won in modifieds on dirt. He won in stock cars for us last year. Now he is winning in USAC sprint cars and contending for the championship. The racing business is about winning, and business is good for Porter Smith."

Porter Smith would like to thank everyone who has made the 2008 racing season possible: SpeedSmith Racing, Kaplan/Gennuso Racing, Red Line Oil, JE Pistons, K&N Filters, FK Rod Ends and MetTec. Porter would also like to thank Grandma, Mom, Dad, Dempsey, Tara, and the Nelson Family. Without the help from all of them this wouldn’t be possible.

For sponsorship opportunities, news, recent results or for more information on Porter Smith please contact Porter at portski7@hotmail.com or at 505.402.1732.

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