| July 18, 2022
Matt Smith has now received 34 NHRA Pro Stock Bike functions but none of his past victories were being any where in the vicinity of as dominant as his newest win at the NHRA Mile-Substantial Nationals in Denver, July 15-17.
By Kevin McKenna | Images by Matt Polito
Racing in the slender mountain air at Bandimere Speedway, which sits 5800 toes above sea level, Smith made the daring final decision to park the Suzuki that he’s been racing this season in favor of the Denso Buell that he rode to final year’s championship. Smith figured the V-twin mix would give him a distinct edge in excess of his rivals.
He was appropriate.
During qualifying, Smith established the keep track of file with a 7.10-second run and then run his way by four difficult rounds on race working day in 95-degree warmth. Smith concluded the day by beating Reed Motorsports’ Suzuki’s Joey Gladstone with a 7.09, very well in advance of his opponent’s or else competitive 7.16.
“I made the choice to race a Suzuki up right here for a pair of reasons,” Smith stated. “First, we don’t have a great deal of areas and parts ideal now, so I seriously have a person very good engine and with two races in a row, I just can’t hazard hurting it. Obviously, the Buell is the bicycle that gained this race previous calendar year, and I know it quite nicely. I figured it would be excellent to bring it out.
“We experienced selection just one, won the race, and established each ends of track record,” Smith claimed. “I simply cannot ask for a lot more than that. Now, I despise to put this bike again up in the trailer when we go to Sonoma up coming week, but I’m pretty committed to the Suzuki program. I honestly haven’t built up my thoughts yet.”
With these a huge advantage in excess of the relaxation of the discipline, it may possibly have been fair for Smith to experience further tension, but he insists usually. He was targeted on the activity at hand and was hardly ever seriously challenged as he built his way past Marc Ingwersen and three-time environment champ Angelle Sampey to achieve the last. Smith’s slowest run of the day was a 7.12 and that was continue to a lot more than more than enough to go over Sampey, who slowed to a 7.25.
“I had a good bike, but there ended up a good deal of rapid Suzukis out there,” Smith mentioned. “Joey [Gladstone] ran a 7.15 and Eddie [Krawiec] ran 7.14, so they were being speedy. I said from the beginning that these guys would be quick, but they just skipped the tune-up a very little. It’s not straightforward to race up below on this mountain. Sometimes it usually takes a couple runs to get the hang of it. The Suzukis will be greater up listed here following calendar year. I assurance it.”
As for Gladstone, the last round decline was his 2nd in as many races. The Reed Motorsports rider also went to the closing at the Norwalk, Ohio, round very last thirty day period and he appears destined to gain his 1st NHRA event in the near upcoming.
Gladstone rode earlier Ryan Oehler, Krawiec, and Smith’s wife, Angie, to achieve the final. From Angie Smith’s Denso Buell, Gladstone created his ideal operate of the weekend with a 7.15, when Smith’s bike slowed right after a throttle-posture sensor reportedly malfunctioned.
“I genuinely wish I’d have run Angie in the closing, but her bicycle slowed up,” Matt Smith explained. “Her bike was each little bit as fantastic as mine and she could very easily have won this race but it was just negative luck. Luckily, we place a Denso Buell in the winner’s circle and which is most critical.”
With the acquire, Smith has officially triumph over his slow start to the period. He’s climbed to third location in the Tenting World NHRA standings and is just 19 points driving leader Steve Johnson and nine details driving 2nd-ranked Sampey. Gladstone has moved to selection four and is just 46 details out from 1st area.
The NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class now goes from the slowest observe on the tour to just one of the fastest, Sonoma Raceway in Central California. There are a few races remaining ahead of the start of the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s 6-race playoff to figure out the period champion.
2022 NHRA Pro Stock MC Denver Benefits
Closing
- Matt Smith (Bue)
- Joey Gladstone (Suz)
Click on listed here for all the hottest Drag Racing information.