Darlingttn Von Smith Report

Von Smith Runs Quickest and Fastest of the Event, Falls Short In The Finals to Dale Brand

DARLINGTON, SC-- It was a stellar day for the World Champion alcohol funny car driver Von Smith. But it came to an abrupt end for Smith and his team, in the final round when the only determining factor in his loss was a difference of .022 in the reaction times. Smith could only kick himself as he allowed Dale Brand to outreact him and fend him off with a slower elapsed time.

Smith completed qualifying in the number one spot, and was set to face Dave Keddy in the first round of eliminations. Smith wound up running a single due to the fact that Keddy broke on the line. Up next to face the wrath of the Oak Ridge, TN,-based Smith was Bobby Baucom. Smith had Baucom covered from the green and used a 5.977/236.55. Smith then topped Lape with a 5.966/235.27 in the semis.

Smith has found himself in the same position that he has been in at every IHRA event up to this point. He reached the finals for the third consecutive time and this time, he squared off against Brand. The starting line difference was all Brand needed to score a 5.951/236.42 to 5.934/237.00 victory.

Smith plans to continue on his trek to winning another championship with his Big Daddy's-backed 1999 Pontiac Firebird at the IHRA Amalie Oil Summer Nationals in Cordova, Ill. Smith, along with each Pro Alcohol Funny Car contestants, will be afforded two qualifying runs on Friday and another two on Saturday. Final eliminations are slated for Sunday. This event will be televised on ESPN2 with the dates and times TBA in an upcoming issue of the IHRA's Drag Review magazine.