NHRA: Krisher Hires Rickie Smith as New Crew Chief

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 12, 2001

Ron Krisher, currently seventh in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock standings with one victory, will have a new crew chief tuning his Eagle One Chevrolet Cavalier in this weekend's (June 15-17) Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway. It's Rickie Smith, twice a winning driver in the class, taking over from Mike Edwards.

Smith, 47, of King, N.C., had been driving a Pro Stock entry owned by Kenny Koretsky. Krisher said he spoke with Koretsky and obtained his OK to hire Smith, who previously worked with Krisher on preparation of the Eagle One car in 1999. Smith, in addition to his two career wins, was runner-up in the 1996 U.S. Nationals and finished a career-best fifth in points that season.

"He's one of the best people to get the car down the track," Krisher said of Smith. "There's only five-or-six people capable of doing that. We've been friends since '99 and there were no hard feelings when he left. He wanted to drive a race car at that time and had that opportunity with Kenny."

National Trail Raceway, located outside Columbus, Ohio, is "home" track for Krisher, who resides in Warren, Ohio.

Text provided by M. Knight

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