Suzuki rider Smith clinches spot in Countdown in Brainerd

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 10 of 17 - Pro Stock Motorcycle
28th annual NHRA NATIONALS
Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway
Aug. 14-16, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SUZUKI RIDER SMITH CLINCHES SPOT IN COUNTDOWN IN BRAINERD

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15, 2009) - Matt Smith, riding the Nitro Fish Ultimate
Gear Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle for Don Schumacher Racing, 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 todayıs
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."

Smith will face Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec in the opening round of
Sunday's eliminations.

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