(Photo by DB3 Imaging)
Inside Line Promotions – SELINSGROVE, Pa. (April 26, 2016) – Ryan Smith had a very good weekend against not only the tough Pennsylvania Posse, but the travelers of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions as well this past weekend.
On Friday Smith took on the “Posse” at the historic Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., for the Tommy Hinnershitz Memorial. Smith then battled with the All Stars at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., on Saturday for the inaugural Keith Kauffman Classic before wrapping up the weekend against the All Stars on Sunday at Selinsgrove Speedway for the Ray Tilley Classic.
Smith kicked off the weekend on Friday by qualifying fifth quickest at Williams Grove Speedway. The teams only got one lap on the clock due to impending weather. After qualifying through his heat race directly into the feature, Smith worked his way into the top three. However, late in the race traffic held him up and Smith held on to a fifth-place finish.
“I should have been third,” he said. “I was a little too patient with lapped cars and (Greg) Hodnett and Stevie (Smith) got by me. I’ve raced at the Grove three years and I’m really hungry to win one there. We may focus a little more there.”
At Port Royal Speedway on Saturday Smith posted the 22nd overall qualifying time. However, under the All Star procedures, drivers qualify against the cars in their heat with the top four in times in each heat inverted. Smith started on the pole of the second heat and he earned the win to be eligible for the dash, which determines the top eight starting positions in the feature. Unfortunately, his qualifying time wasn’t one of the top eight and therefore he started the feature on the outside of the fifth row.
“I raced up to fifth, but the left rear tire sealed up and we wound up seventh,” he said. “We went forward against some great competition so it was a good night.”
On Sunday at Selinsgrove Speedway Smith started the night by timing in 25th fastest overall, which was fourth quick for his heat, putting him on the pole. A second-place run in the heat made him eligible again for the dash. However, just like the previous night, the other drivers eligible for the dash had a quicker overall time, meaning Smith started the feature 10th.
“Selinsgrove just isn’t a good track for me for some reason,” he said after finishing 11th. “It really slowed up by the time I went out to qualify. My crew chief, Jeremy, and I discussed the strategy. We wanted to make sure we made the feature and knew it would be very difficult to make the top eight in qualifying. The car was pretty decent in hot laps so we didn’t tighten it up and we caught the pole for the heat.
“There’s something going on with me and these Hoosier tires. I overheated the tires two nights in a row.”
After the weekend Smith sits fourth in the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions points standings. He raced with the All Stars all of 2015 and had chosen to race an “outlaw” schedule in 2016.
“I would love to do the All Star deal again, but we’re a small team,” he said. “We tow with a pick-up truck. We only have two motors and our trailer is only big enough for one car. We just don’t have resources to travel like the All Stars do.
“Being fourth has us thinking though. I’m sure we will talk it over this week with Rob (Warko) and see what happens. Rob agreed to let us do the All Star deal last year. He owns the car and he wants to see it race and I can’t blame him.”
That all means Smith’s schedule for the coming weekend is still up in the air. However, he said the team plans to be at Path Valley Speedway Park in Spring Run, Pa., on Sunday.
“The All Stars are at Atomic Speedway on Saturday,” he said. “That’s an eight-hour drive for us so we’re probably leaning on Williams Grove Speedway Friday and Lincoln Speedway Saturday.”
QUICK RESULTS –
April 22 – Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. – Qualifying: 5; Feature: 5 (5).
April 23 – Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa. – Qualifying: 22; Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 7 (10).
April 24 – Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa. – Qualifying: 25; Heat race: 2 (1); Feature: 10 (11).
SEASON STATS –
16 races, 0 wins, 3 top fives, 7 top 10s, 11 top 15s, 14 top 20s
UP NEXT –
TBA
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
APPAREL –
Visit http://www.RyanSmithRacing.com to view the latest apparel options, which include t-shirts and hoodies.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Fighting Angels Foundation
Fighting Angels Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to support and fund research and raise awareness of the rare neuro-genetic disorder Angelman Syndrome as well as serving and protecting the needs of the 1 in 15,000 individuals affected by this disorder. Our inspiration is Joseph (Joey) Paul Moretti Jr. FAF focuses its activities through yearly fundraising events and the support of public donations from generous individuals and companies to help fund its cause. Fighting to Talk, Fighting to Walk, Fighting for a Cure is our motto! For more information, visit http://www.FightingAngelsFoundation.com.
“The people with Fighting Angels Foundation are phenomenal,” Smith said. “They are great people doing great things to help find a cure for Angelman Syndrome. They came to us to help raise awareness for this disease. They truly believe a cure is close and I know race fans will help them get there.”
Smith would also like to thank Warko Group, S&S Speedways, G.L.T. Electrical, CnB Chubby, Quality Roofing Supply, East Coast Helicopter Tours, 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 Apr 26, 2016
- Article Date: 4/26/2016 by Inside Line Promotions