NHRA

Commerce: Matt Smith Saturday summary

MATT SMITH RIDES NITRO FISH SUZUKI TO NO. 3 IN ATLANTA QUALIFYING COMMERCE, Ga. (April 18, 2009) - After sub-par performances through the first three qualifying rounds at the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, Matt Smith placed the Nitro ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:51 PM

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MATT SMITH RIDES NITRO FISH SUZUKI TO NO. 3 IN ATLANTA QUALIFYING

COMMERCE, Ga. (April 18, 2009) - After sub-par performances through the first three qualifying rounds at the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, Matt Smith placed the Nitro Fish Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle smack into the No. 3 spot, recording the final session's quickest lap of 6.890 seconds at his career fastest speed of 194.63 mph.

His previous laps were a 6.992/193.49 (No. 2), 6.932/190.83 (No. 6) and 6.935/191.05 (No. 6).

"The Nitro Fish guys got back to the shop in Houston after we set the (national elapsed-time) record and the wheelie bars were bent, so they made some new wheelie bars," explained the PSM class points leader.

"We were just off the first day here getting them adjusted right. But we've been gradually getting it right and going straight. The tune-up has been there; we just had to get the bike to go straight.

"We've been changing the bars, doing small stuff and more small stuff and just creeping up on it. This Nitro Fish Suzuki that Don Schumacher gave me to drive this year is awesome and we're going to get it dialed back in and we'll be ready for tomorrow.

"We feel like we've got the fastest bike out here, but this is drag racing so you have to go down the track in a straight line and that's what we did in that last run."

Smith faces Steve Johnson in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.

-credit: dsr

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