On Wednesday his feud with fellow Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Smith intensified amid allegations of racial prejudice by Phillips and Smith calling Phillips a cheater.

Phillips, who won the Fram-Autolite Nationals last Sunday in Sonoma, responded by capturing the provisional pole Friday night at the Mile-High Nationals in grand fashion.

If Michael Phillips proved anything Friday night at the Mile-High Nationals it is that he is not easily distracted.

On Wednesday his feud with fellow Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Smith intensified amid allegations of racial prejudice by Phillips and Smith calling Phillips a cheater.

Phillips, who won the Fram-Autolite Nationals last Sunday in Sonoma, responded by capturing the provisional pole Friday night at the Mile-High Nationals in grand fashion.

Phillips clocked a new track record time of 7.308-seconds. The former track record was 7.319 seconds set last year by Hector Arana.

“That 30 was a surprise actually I thought that run maybe was going to be around a 40 or 41,” said Phillips, who pilots his Racers Edge-sponsored Suzuki. “It had a decent short time and I revved it up pretty good and got it done. That 30 was pretty impressive.”

Phillips also addressed the war of words he and Smith had this week.

“I’m not going to worry about that guy (Smith), he has a racial problem,” Phillips said.

Phillips is riding a Suzuki that Andrew Hines used to ride. Phillips bought the bike from Hines in 2003. He also is running a Vance & Hines engine.

Smith believes Phillips is cheating. Namely because Smith thinks Phillips can’t legitimately make the power he’s making with the motors he is buying from Vance & Hines.

“I showed Byron (Hines) what I was doing and I pulled it up on the computer (Saturday),” Phillips said. “He (Byron) told me I was doing a great job and to keep up the good work. I’m finished with all that he-said, she-said stuff. I have to stay focused and I want to win the championship and I’m not going to let anybody get in my way to do that. That motor I was running (Friday), I have 10 runs on the valve springs, and 30 runs on the crank. Once I make it out of this weekend, I’m going to send that motor back and have it freshened up because I have a new one (motor) sitting on the floor. Then, I will be ready for the rest of the year.”

When Phillips came to the Mile-High Nationals, he was fourth in the season point chase. However, he’s in a tight battle with Matt Smith and Andrew Hines for second place. Hector Arana, the reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ, is atop the point standings.

Phillips who has three wins this season knows he’s going to step it up if he wants to keep the pole Saturday.

“You will probably see somebody go a 26 or 27 in the morning, it is going to be real fast,” Phillips said.