(Photo by Rick Rarer)
Inside Line Promotions – IMPERIAL, Pa. (Aug. 4, 2015) – Ryan Smith scored a trio of top-10 finishes last weekend during a UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions tripleheader.
“It was definitely a good weekend,” he said. “It was solid. We still need to find some more speed because everyone is chasing Dale Blaney right now, but we’re right there. We’re definitely racing better and we’re being more consistent. Everything is working well and everyone is jiving. Hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
Smith kicked off last weekend on Friday at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he qualified eighth quickest – second in his group – and finished fifth in a heat race to lock into the 18th starting position for the main event.
“We missed it a little in the heat race,” he said. “We weren’t bad. We were just still working on the setup. In the feature we got to 10th about halfway and then the track took rubber. From then there was no more passing. It was a good start to the weekend though.”
Smith rallied from 18th to post a 10th-place result, which marked his 16th top 10 of the season.
The team returned to the high-banked track on Saturday for the Open Wheel Championships, which Smith began by timing in 24th quickest and third in his group. He finished where he started in a heat race – second – and the dash – third – to line up on the inside of the second row for the $10,000-to-win main event.
“We were where we needed to be and we were right there the whole time in the feature,” he said. “I got around Blaney at one point, but he found rubber before I did and drove back by me. Once he found that Sheldon (Haudenschild) was a sitting duck. I got Sheldon on the last lap for second place. It was a great race.”
Smith’s runner-up result, which was his 10th top five of the year, provided momentum entering Sunday’s event at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Smith qualified seventh quickest – fourth in his group – before winning a heat race to lock into the dash. His eighth-place result in the dash lined the team up on the outside of the fourth row for the main event.
“It was a big track and was real slippery,” he said. “I was up to fifth coming out of turn two on the first lap and then the track moved up to the wall. I didn’t get the wing back quick enough and I fell back to ninth. Once the track cleaned off I got going better. I got by (Tim) Shaffer at the end. (Chad) Kemenah and (Greg) Wilson were right there in front of me, too.”
Smith placed eighth, which marked his sixth consecutive top-10 finish.
He is scheduled to compete this Saturday at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 31 – Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 5 (3); Feature: 10 (18).
Aug. 1 – Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio – Qualifying: 24; Heat race: 2 (2); Dash: 3 (3); Feature: 2 (3).
Aug. 2 – Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pa. – Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 8 (7); Feature: 8 (8).
SEASON STATS –
43 races, 2 wins, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s, 24 top 15s, 32 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.RyanSmithRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanSmithRacing
Twitter Race Updates: https://twitter.com/DeniseS_SS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanSmith.TheKunkletownKid
Instagram: https://instagram.com/denises_ss
VIDEO –
Here is a link to Smith’s first career All Star Circuit of Champions victory on April 4 at Attica Raceway Park: https://youtu.be/nBIxI_tNFyc
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Quality Roofing Supply
Quality Roofing Supply is a distributor of residential roofing, commercial roofing and exterior building materials through 15 locations throughout Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company has one of the largest inventories of roofing shingles, metal roofing, slate roofing, commercial roofing, siding, windows, doors, decking, railing, waterproofing and accessories in the entire country. For more information, visit http://www.QualityRoofingSupply.com.
“Quality Roofing Supply has been a big supporter of me the past couple of years,” Smith said. “We appreciate their support and encourage anyone in the Northeast who has roofing needs to check out Quality Roofing Supply. We look forward to visiting Victory Lane with Quality Roofing Supply.”
Smith would also like to thank Warko Group, S&S Speedways, G.L.T. Electrical, CnB Chubby, Fighting Angels Foundation, Armbruster Racing Photos, Thunder on the Hill Racing Series, HP Engines, Pancho’s Racing Products, GME Steering and Vahlco Racing Wheels for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Aug 04, 2015
- Article Date: 8/4/2015 by Inside Line Promotions