Sonoma: Matt Smith Saturday notes

SUZUKI RIDER SMITH NAILS DOWN A NO. 2 IN SONOMA QUALIFYING

SONOMA, Calif. (July 25, 2009) - Matt Smith, rider of the Nitro Fish Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle for Don Schumacher Racing, nailed down a solid No. 2 in qualifying for the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway today, after posting a strong 6.919-second elapsed time at 192.58 mph in the final qualifying session.

His other passes during the weekend were a 7.111/182.06 (No. 3), 7.092/187.29 (No. 9), and a 7.021/185.61 (No. 5).

Smith split up the dominating Harley-Davidsons of pole-sitter Eddie Krawiec and No. 3 Andrew Hines with that run, benefiting from a tail wind on this scenic Wine Country drag strip.

"We changed motors after first pass yesterday and this is a better motor and we knew that," said the 2007 Sonoma titlist. "It's the one we set the national record with in Houston (this year) and we just missed the tune-up this morning when the air was really good.

"Man, this DSR Nitro Fish Suzuki shined right there. Shook the tire a little bit in second gear. If it wouldn't have done that we would have been No. 1. We'll take the No. 2 spot and we have a good bike tomorrow, and I think you're going to see good things from us on Sunday.

"We had a tail wind this evening. We had no wind this morning; that's when we learned, when we missed the tune-up with the gear ratio, that it just killed us in fourth, fifth and sixth (gears).

"We fixed that problem, a little tail wind came in, and it hauled ass."

Smith faces Bailey Whitaker in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.

-credit: dsr