CHEERS AND JEERS FROM MATT SMITH
![smith.jpg smith.jpg](/sites/default/files/images/stories/august2009/news/week_three/smith.jpg)
Smith clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs today with his No. 12 qualifying effort at the 28th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Smith recorded his quickest pass of 7.185 seconds at 182.72 mph (No. 6) right out of the box in the first round of qualifying on Friday. Friday evening's pass was aborted because of an electrical problem and today’s third round produced a 7.204/180.91 (No. 10). Then, following an engine change for the final session, the bike hiccupped to a 7.623/184.83 pass.
Matt Smith has a reason to cheer on Saturday and possibly a jeer for Sunday.
Smith clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs today with his No.
12 qualifying effort at the 28th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd
International Raceway.
Smith recorded his quickest pass of 7.185 seconds at 182.72 mph (No. 6)
right out of the box in the first round of qualifying on Friday. Friday
evening's pass was aborted because of an electrical problem and today’s
third round produced a 7.204/180.91 (No. 10). Then, following an engine
change for the final session, the bike hiccupped to a 7.623/184.83 pass.
"It's disappointing, because we're not running as good as we should
be," said Smith. "Yesterday we ran decent on the first pass, but it
could have been better. We thought it was just the tune-up, but maybe
the motor wasn't that good or something was going away in the motor
that we didn't know about.
"Then we had an electrical problem yesterday evening that cost us the
second run in qualifying and then this morning we thought the motor was
going away, so we stuck another motor in for the Q4 pass, and it just
bogged. I don't know why. I had it wide open, popped the clutch, and it
was in first gear. I had an .02 light, I was right on my game, where I
wanted to be. The only reason I legged it out was so we could have a
tune-up pass for tomorrow.
"I'm glad we clinched a spot in the Countdown, but this is the worst we've qualified all year."
As for the jeer, Smith will face Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec in
the opening round of Sunday's eliminations. The former world champion
recently stated on the record that the Harley-Davidsons have such a
profound advantage that the rest of the Pro Stock Bikes are racing for
third.
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