Matt Smith Fastest Qualifier at Carolinas Nationals
Matt Smith qualified his NitroFish / Torco Buell fastest at the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. Smith ran a 6.952 second E.T. at 192.08 MPH in the first round of qualifying on Friday. The track, recently constructed at Lowes Motor Speedway, was still green as riders learned how their bikes would respond to the expansive track. zMax Dragway has been referred to as the Bellagio of drag strips.
Veteran AHDRA and rookie NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Valerie Thompson made her second attempt to qualify for an NHRA race. Unfortunately, Ms. Thompson had the dubious honor of being the first rider to check out the sand trap at the end of the strip. She made the fastest run of her career this weekend, but was edged out of the field by 0.073 seconds.
ESPN2 will broadcast the race on Sunday 9/14/2008 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM EST and will rebroadcast the race Wednesday 9/17 from 2:30 AM to 4:30 AM EST.
The qualifying order and first round pairings for Sunday's Race:
1. Matt Smith NitroFish/Torco Buell 6.952 192.08
16. Shawn Gann Race Girl/Pure Power Suzuki 7.189 186.51
2. Chris Rivas Drag Specialties/S&S/G2 Buell 6.968 191.19
15. Joe DeSantis Javelina H-D & Green H-D Suzuki 7.114 190.19
3. Eddie Krawiec Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 6.981 192.30
14. Junior Pippin Stone Mtn & Granite Mtn HD Buell 7.098 186.30
4. Andrew Hines Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines 7.007 191.24
13. Wes Wells Ray Skillman Perf. Parts Suzuki 7.072 189.68
5. Steve Johnson Snap-On Tools Suzuki 7.029 192.22
12. Angie McBride Carolina Speed Buell 7.066 187.99
6. Chip Ellis Schumacher Electric Suzuki 7.036 191.19
11. Matt Guidera Rocklin Motorsports Buell 7.060 187.16
7. Karen Stoffer Geico Suzuki 7.037 190.94
10. Angelle Sampey Rush Racing Products Buell 7.056 187.26
8. Hector Arana Lucas Oil Buell 7.038 189.73
9. Craig Treble Albrecht's Fast Track Suzuki 7.044 191.02
DNQ
Valerie Thompson EYE-On Buell 7.262 184.07
Darin McCurdy G&M Racing Suzuki 7.344 180.36
Speed and time data courtesy of NHRA.
Tags: Carolinas Nationals, Matt Smith, NHRA
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