Denver: Matt Smith Saturday notes

MATT SMITH MOVES INTO NO. 7 IN DENVER QUALIFYING

MORRISON, Colo. (July 11, 2009) - The Nitro Fish Suzuki under rider Matt Smith showed a marked improvement in the two rounds of qualifying today after an overnight engine change. He landed in the seventh spot, posting a 7.379-second elapsed time at 174.21 mph in the final session, the fourth quickest lap of that round.

Before today's two qualifying sessions for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, Smith was placed No. 13 and out of the field, with his quickest pass Friday a 7.489/173.36, which followed a 7.506/174.26 (No. 8).

Following the engine swap, Smith recorded a solid 7.399/175.37 today under warm conditions to move into seventh, producing the third quickest pass of that round.

He will face Junior Pippin for the third time in eight races of the 17 for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, holding a 2-0 record.

"Today was a better day for our Nitro Fish Suzuki," said Smith, winner at the Mopar Mile-Highs the last two years. "But we still have some improvements to make. We ran good down-low numbers, but the back-half numbers were off some. We're still missing the tune-up a little bit, but we'll get it on Sunday.

"We ran good in the heat today - we were third quick - and that's what the race conditions will be tomorrow, most likely," he added.

"It's going to be the battle of the apparel companies again (against Pippin's PiranaZ Buell). We're going to try to do our job and turn the win light on."

-credit: dsr