Thu, 24 Dec 2009, 09:32 AM Fulltime Ride for Angie Smith in 2010

By Bobby Bennett, CompetitionPlus.com Team Signs Coffman Tank Trucks To Sponsorship

Angie Smith

Pro Stock Bike rider Angie Smith won't have to wait until Christmas Day to open one of her finest presents.

Smith, formerly Angie McBride, will race a full NHRA Full Throttle tour aboard Karl and Kim Klement's Buell thanks to sponsorship from Coffman Tank Trucks.

"I really excited about this," said Smith. "This is the first opportunity I've ever had to race fulltime. This has been my dream and now it's coming true. It's probably the biggest Christmas present I've ever gotten."

Former NHRA Pro Stock Bike champion Matt Smith will build the team's engines and oversee the program from the crew chief role. Because of the funding the Coffman Tank Trucks sponsorship brings to the Klement Racing team, there will be ample availability to test as well as conduct research and development programs.

"We are going to have a good program and I feel like we have a team that will perform well," Smith added. "Our biggest goal is to get in the top ten this year and we feel like we have a team that legitimately to do that."

Team owner Karl Klement agrees.

"We have a fantastic deal for 2010," Klement explained. "I am really excited. The game plan is to win a championship. This will be my third full-time year and with the program that I have with Matt building the engines and Angie riding, is capable of winning a national event at any track on the tour. She just needed some support behind her and with Coffman Tank Trucks, I feel confident that we have got what it takes to get the job done.

The program with Coffman Tank Trucks, a company owned by J.B. and Terissa Coffman, was one that was forged through a friendship and divine intervention. The Coffmans are former bracket racers who had a working relationship with Klement and attended the NHRA Fall Nationals last September in Ennis, Texas.

"I hope this develops into a long term deal because Karl and I have become close friends with everyone," said Coffman. "We're looking forward to it.

"This has been a blessing and God orchestrated it all," he continued. "I have to give God the glory for allowing my businesses to work out to the point that we were able to do this. I give Him the glory for what has happened and what is going to take place."

The enthusiasm from all the parties involved has Angie Smith smiling broader than ever.

"We're going to have a great team, great team owners and great sponsors," confirmed Mrs. Smith. "That's going to make for a great 2010 and a really great Christmas this year."

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