Go to content Go to navigation Go to recent PR reports Go to search

Smith qualifies Nitro Fish Suzuki in fifth in Norwalk

Tuesday June 30, 2009

 

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 7 of 17 - Pro Stock Motorcycle
Third annual NHRA Nationals
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK
Norwalk, Ohio
June 26-28, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SMITH QUALIFIES NITRO FISH SUZUKI IN FIFTH IN NORWALK

NORWALK, Ohio (June 27, 2009) - Matt Smith rode the Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle into the No. 5 spot in the final of four qualifying sessions for the NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park today, posting his quickest pass of the weekend of 7.058 seconds at 188.91 mph.

In the three previous rounds, he struggled with the bike's performance, with the crew replacing the engine twice. His runs included an 8.990/99.12 (No. 16), a 7.097/186.92 (No. 7) and a 7.13/183.42 (No. 9).

"This Nitro Fish Suzuki has just not had a good weekend," said the 2007 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion. "In the first run yesterday the oil pump quit working. It just shorted out and that totally seized up the motor.

"This is our third motor in four rounds and It still wasn't right. It was still fluttering and carrying on out there in every gear (in the final session). But this one will be fine; we just have to get a tune-up on it now. We have to get all the bugs out and hopefully all these issues will end and we'll be going fast again.

"We ended up fifth, but we left a lot on the table. We could have made six-second laps here, but I don't know if we could have gone a 6.94 (set by polesitter Andrew Hines in a Harley-Davidson).

"Steve (Tartaglia, crew chief) tells me everything in the motor is the same as what he's always had, so we're not sure what the problem is. One good thing about having the Countdown coming up is we don't have to worry about it so much right now because everything will go back to almost zero come Indy." The Countdown to 1 for the top 10 on points begins following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis.

"The Don Schumacher Racing crew guys worked hard and we're going to work hard tonight to get this thing right," added Smith. "But, for now, we're going to get us some of this Norwalk 'dollar a pound' ice cream.

Smith faces Junior Pippin the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.

Do you want the chance to win a free Frontstretch T-Shirt, and are you really good at talking about NASCAR? Well, we have the perfect opportunity for you. Our staff will be giving away a free T-Shirt to the reader who makes the best post in our Frontstretch Forum between now and the end of the season. So, what makes a good post? It’s pretty hard to impress us, but here are some things we are looking for:

Does your post spark passionate reactions from other readers? Are you commenting on meaningful NASCAR-related events? Do your posts have substance? In other words, “Dale Jr. is the best driver ever” or “Danica Patrick is hot” will not cut it.

So go to the Frontstretch Forums, post early, post often, and post well! We’ll announce the winner following the final race of the season at Homestead.

This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Beth Lunkenheimer.

 

©2000 - 2008 Beth Lunkenheimer and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!