(Photo by Rick Rarer)
Inside Line Promotions – ORRVILLE, Ohio (Sept. 7, 2015) – Ryan Smith capped last weekend’s UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions tripleheader on Sunday by earning his 12th top five of the season.
Smith led the first 11 laps at Wayne County Speedway before ending with a fifth-place result on the rough track.
“It was frustrating to start on the pole and lead 11 laps and go backwards, but the track conditions really changed,” he said. “There were a couple of times I was up on two wheels. I had my left tires completely off the ground. It got really rough. I wasn’t quite prepared for that.”
Smith opened the night by setting quick time during qualifying. He then finished fifth in a heat race to lock himself into the dash, which he won after drawing the pole.
“It was one of those nights were both draws were good,” he said. “I couldn’t believe I walked up there and drew the ace to start on the pole. In the dash we got a good start and pulled away from Dale (Blaney). It was the same thing in the feature.”
Smith capitalized on his starting position by taking the top spot from the drop of the green flag. He led the first 11 laps before getting into traffic as the track began to get tougher to maneuver around.
“About 10 laps in it started getting worse and worse and got real bad,” he said. “I should have moved up a little further on the race track to get around the holes. That hurt me a little bit.”
Smith held on during the final stages of the race to end fifth, which was a better result than the first two nights of the weekend at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, produced.
“On Friday and Saturday I didn’t time in well when I needed to time in well,” he said. “It was around the rim and I was about a car length below that.”
Smith qualified 20th quickest on Friday and 17th on Saturday. He earned his way into the feature on Friday by finishing sixth in a heat race and second in the B Main. However, track position was critical and Smith was only able to rally from 22nd to 17th in the main event.
“On Friday it rained pretty good and it was tough to pass,” he said. “Saturday got racy, but early in the night it built up a pretty good cushion. You had to be elbows-up.”
Smith placed sixth in a heat on Saturday before driving from 16th to 13th in the feature.
“We went forward a little bit both nights,” he said. “Starting position was key. We were good enough to run fourth if we started fourth, but starting toward the back it was really hard to make up any ground.”
Smith, who remains seventh in the championship standings with seven All Star races left this season, returns to action this Friday and Saturday with the series at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., for the 48th annual Tuscarora 50.
“It’s a lot of fun in Ohio, but it’s nice to run where you cut your teeth,” he said. “I’m excited for it and we’re working on building a good piece for the weekend. Hopefully we can run up front and gain some points back.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Sept. 4 – Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio – Qualifying: 20; Heat race: 6 (6); B Main: 2 (2); Feature: 17 (22).
Sept. 5 – Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio – Qualifying: 17; Heat race: 6 (9); Feature: 13 (16).
Sept. 6 – Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 5 (4); Dash: 1 (1); Feature: 5 (1).
SEASON STATS –
52 races, 2 wins, 12 top fives, 21 top 10s, 31 top 15s, 40 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., for the 48th annual Tuscarora 50 with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions
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 – CnB Chubby
“Chubby is a great guy and is great for the sport,” Smith said. “He helps out a bunch of guys and I’m glad to be one of them. The sport needs more people like him.”
Smith would also like to thank Warko Group, S&S Speedways, Quality Roofing Supply, G.L.T. Electrical, 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 Sep 07, 2015
- Article Date: 9/7/2015 by Inside Line Promotions