Suzuki rider Smith nails down a No. 2 in Sonoma qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 9 of 17 - Pro Stock Motorcycle
FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
July 24-26, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

SUZUKI RIDER SMITH NAILS DOWN A NO. 2 IN SONOMA QUALIFYING

SONOMA, Calif. (July 25, 2009) - 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-Autolie 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.

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