Matt Smith Takes Fan-Sponsored Buell to Semi-Finals at Home Track

NHRA Matt Smith O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals zMAX Dragway CONCORD, N.C. Sun, Sep 18, 2011 Matt Smith Takes Fan-Sponsored Buell to Semi-Finals at Home Track 024.jpgAfter two consecutive first-round exits, former NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith got back on track and took his Haltech/Red Line Fan Bike to the semi-finals Sunday at zMAX Dragway. Although his day was ended by Karen Stoffer, he jumped three spots in the PSM points standings to third, behind Stoffer and eventual winner of the 4th Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, Eddie Krawiec.

While his wife and teammate, Angie, fouled out in the first round as the result of a rare red light, the third Matt Smith Racing rider, Michael Ray, joined Matt in the semi-finals. “We had a great weekend,” said Matt prior to the finals. “We qualified all three bikes, two of us won first round and then, two of us won the second round. All in all, we had a really good weekend. So we’ll regroup and go to Dallas.” Smith’s Fan Bike, supported by $20 donations from drag racing fans all over the country, was a big hit over the course of the weekend with many of the “sponsors” attending a pit party with the Smiths and the winner of the last three-straight Top Fuel races, including Sunday’s race here, Antron Brown. It was such a success, there is already talk of doing it again when the bikes return to Charlotte on the 2012 schedule. “The Fan Bike was great!” he said. “I hope all the fans had a good time and got to see their name out there. I hope they get to see it on TV and they can say, ‘Hey, that’s my name on that bike!’” The next race on the NHRA Full Throttle Series schedule is the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas. For ticket information, http://www.nhra.com Fans of Matt Smith can find updates and photos of Matt Smith Racing at MattSmithRacing.com, Facebook.com/MattSmithRacing, and Twitter.com/MattSmithRacing. Videos of Matt and Matt Smith Racing can be found at YouTube.com/MattSmithNHRA. For information regarding sponsorship opportunities with Matt Smith Racing, please e-mail MattSmithRacing@yahoo.com. About HighSide Media Founded in 2007, HighSide Media has represented some of the top drivers, teams, facilities, sponsors, and sanctions in American motorsports. HighSide Media provides public and media relations for racers at every level with tailor-made programs for every budget. Pass YOUR Competition on the HighSide. For more information on HighSide Media, its programs, and its clients, visit HighSideMedia.com. You can also follow HSM at Twitter.com/HighSideMedia and on its official page on Facebook