Smith takes Nitro Fish Suzuki to semifinals in Memphis

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 3 of five Countdown to 1 Playoffs events for Pro Stock Motorcycle
class
Round 15 of 17 for season
NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS
Memphis Motorsports Park
Oct. 2-4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SMITH TAKES NITRO FISH SUZUKI TO SEMIFINALS IN MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS (Oct. 5, 2009) - Matt Smith and the Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki
Pro Stock Motorcycle team are relishing their resurgence in performance,
which was evidenced today at the NHRA Mid-South Nationals with his strong
semifinal finish at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Smith, who qualified No. 2 for the event, held on Monday after Sunday's
eliminations were rained out, first defeated Redell Harris in the opening
round with a stout 6.928-second pass at 192.30 mph. He then was given a gift
when Douglas Hope broke in the other lane in the second round and Smith
rolled to a 6.940/190.22 lap.

In the semifinal round he met up with Eddie Krawiec, one of Smith's
Harley-Davidson nemeses, and put his best effort forward (.023 reaction time
versus .029), only to be beaten at the finish line by Krawiec's 6.929/192.03
to his 6.944/191.10.

He briefly moved up to third place in the Countdown to 1 playoffs standings,
only to slip back to fourth when Michael Phillips won the event.

"We've had a great last two races in this Nitro Fish Suzuki," said Smith,
who also was a semifinalist at last week's event in Texas. "We just can't
seem to get past the semifinals and get over that little hump. We just need
to get that lucky break. That's what it takes. One time if we get past it I
think we'll be in good shape.

"We have a fast bike, we're good. I left on Eddie, I was ahead of him, and
he just drove around us.

"We're very excited, we're very happy. Probably Mike Dunn (ESPN2 reporter)
can count us out now. With two races to go, we're below the 'line.' We're
going to go for second or third place in the championship.

"All in all, we're all right."

Next up for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class is the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals,
Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

UNOFFICIAL PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE POINT STANDINGS, after three of five
Countdown to 1 playoffs events:
1. Hector Arana, 2420 (earned 20 points for national record today)
2. Eddie Krawiec, 2392 (runner-up today)
3. Michael Phillips, 2255 (winner today)
4. Matt Smith, 2253
5. Andrew Hines, 2249
6. Doug Horne, 2210
7. Karen Stoffer, 2159
8. Shawn Gann, 2157
9. Craig Treble, 2136
10. Matt Guidera, 2020

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