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.
