Ryan Smith made the jump to his team a year ago. Usually, first year teams struggle, they start at the bottom and work their way up the ladder. Not Ryan Smith. He took his new team and car to the World of Outlaw World Finals at Charlotte last season. He qualified 3rd but suffered a mechanical issue in the feature. That didn’t hinder Smith’s determination. In the 2014 season he has seen his first 410 win and he just back that up with a win against the World of Outlaws at Port Royal Speedway.
Qualifying 13th, winning the 1st heat, Smith placing him in the Dash for Cash. His 4th place finish in the Dash would find Smith starting the feature from outside row 2. Smith would be surrounded by seasoned company- Lucus Wolfe, Kerry Madsen, Donny Schatz, Paul McMahan, Joey Saldana. All the who’s who of the World of Outlaw’s. Schatz has been hot all season long and on a 7 race win streak. Wolfe is always fast, Madsen, Saldana, McMahan; tough as nails. Smith didn’t let that bother him. He had one thing on his mind, Victory Lane!
Wolfe would lead the Outlaw charge with Smith and Schatz taking chase. On lap 18 Smith found himself leading the Outlaws. The Port Royal Speedway crowd was on its feet chanting “POSSE-POSSE-POSSE!” cheering on one of their own. Smith managed a .655 second lead on Schatz and never looked back. This would be only the third race on a new Triple X Chassis for Smith and the team.
“I kept looking left and looking right. Waiting for Schatz to blow past me. I knew he was back there. We took a gamble on the set up and it worked in our favor”
Smith who is coming off of his second Most Improved Driver season award at Williams Grove Speedway, is on a roll and ready for his next World of Outlaw stop at the Dirt Track at Charlotte November 6, 7 and 8. Not bad for a driver and team with a fraction of the budget of other teams. Imagine what would happen with additional backing?
See you all in Charlotte!
- Denise Smith on Oct 28, 2014
- Article Date: 10/28/2014