Suzuki rider Smith finishes U.S. Nationals in quarters

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 12 of 17 - Pro Stock Motorcycle
55th annual U.S. Nationals
Raceway Park at Indianapolis
Sept. 4-7, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SUZUKI RIDER SMITH FINISHES U.S. NATIONALS IN THE QUARTERFINALS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 7, 2009) - No. 1 Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifier Matt
Smith was off to a great start at the 55th annual U.S. Nationals at Raceway
Park at Indianapolis, an event he won in 2006.

Riding the Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki for Don Schumacher Racing, he
first dismissed Junior Pippin in the opening round with the second quickest
pass of that stanza, a 6.984-second lap at 188.86 mph, then met up with
Douglas Horne in the quarterfinal round.

Horne torched the starting lights with a .008 reaction time (.000 is
perfect), leaving Smith to try to make up for his .111 light at the finish
line, which he was unable to do, ceding the round win to Horne's
7.164/182.55 pass with his 7.106/184.47.

"The Nitro Fish Suzuki team gave me a great bike this weekend," said a
disappointed Smith, who's reached three finals in his career at this
historic event. "We came in here No. 1 qualifier, we were the first and
second quickest bike basically every round this weekend.

"There's no reason I should've been that late. I went up there to go .05 or
.06 on the tree and let the Suzuki do the work, like it has all weekend, and
I didn't do my job. I feel bad for Steve (Tartaglia, crew chief), I feel bad
for (crew guys) Jason (Jones) and Tom (Patsis), Don (Schumacher) and (Nitro
Fish owner) Kenny Koretsky, all of them.

"Steve and the Nitro Fish Suzuki crew have made great headway in getting
this Suzuki to perform on the track against the dominant Harleys, and I know
they will continue to improve on that. It's a tough class, no doubt about
it, and we all have to be on our games 110 percent at all times, and that
includes me, if we're going to win our first race this season.

"We're in the Countdown, so now it's time to concentrate on winning the
championship." The Countdown to 1 playoffs for the Pro Stock Motorcycle
class will be contested in five of the final six NHRA Full Throttle Drag
Racing Series races, beginning with the Charlotte event, Sept. 18-20.

UNOFFICIAL PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE POINT STANDINGS, after 12 of 17 events
(Countdown points in parentheses):
1. Eddie Krawiec, 1059 (2110)
2. Andrew Hines, 873 (2080)
3. Hector Arana, 839 (2070) - winner today
4. Matt Smith, 778 (2060)
5. Douglas Horne, 757 (2050)
6. Craig Treble, 724 (2040)
7. Michael Phillips, 595 (2030) - runner-up today
8. Matt Guidera, 583 (2020)
9. Shawn Gann, 529 (2010)
10. Karen Stoffer, 511 (2000)

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