(Photo by Tim's Racing Photos)
Inside Line Promotions – YORK HAVEN, Pa. (May 11, 2016) – When the weather finally starts acting like the calendar says it should Ryan Smith will be ready.
The “Kunkletown Kid” had a very good weekend running against the Pennsylvania Posse in arguably the country’s toughest 410ci sprint car competition. On Saturday, Smith recorded a seventh-place result at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., and on Sunday he notched a sixth-place finish at Susquehanna Speedway.
“With the weather we have had the tracks have been pretty one groove,” he said. “I learned a lot this weekend and as the tracks slicked off I got better so I’m ready for the summer racing. The tracks were hammer down at the top and it was tough to pass, but I learned to be patient and when to take my chances.”
Smith battled with a field of 36 of the region’s top sprint cars at each track over the weekend.
On Saturday at Port Royal Speedway Smith used patience early in the feature after he finished second in a heat race to lock himself into the 12-car feature inversion.
“We started eighth and got up to fifth on a hammer-down track,” he said. “It was up to the fence and was tough to pass. I was tight and fell back to ninth and settled in for the first eight to 10 laps. With about four or five laps to go I pulled the wing back and the track had cleared off and I started to go. Once the track got fast from the middle to the bottom I was great.”
Smith’s seventh-place finish marked his eighth top 10 of the season.
On Sunday at Susquehanna Speedway for the Kevin Gobrecht Classic, Smith again fought a tight race car early, but he moved forward later in the race.
“I didn’t qualify well, but because they used the old World of Outlaws format it put us on the pole of the heat, which we won,” he said. “That put us in the dash, but I drew the eight out of eight pills.
“Early in the race I was too tight … same as the night before, I couldn’t enter on the cushion like I should. As the race went on I got better. If I could have started up front I could have been better.”
Smith battled for a top five throughout the feature before posting a sixth-place result.
“It was a good, solid, consistent weekend and we got two top-10 finishes … I can’t be too disappointed with that,” he said. “It gives me confidence as the summer comes on us.”
Weather permitting, Smith plans to compete this Friday and Saturday with Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pa., respectively. Smith currently sits fourth in the All Star point standings.
“We’ve had pretty solid runs against the All Stars and these are tracks I’ve run pretty well at so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 7 – Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa. – Qualifying: -; Heat race: 2 (-); Feature: 7 (8).
May 8 – Susquehanna Speedway in York Haven, Pa. – Qualifying: 14; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 8 (8); Feature: 6 (8).
SEASON STATS –
18 races, 0 wins, 3 top fives, 9 top 10s, 13 top 15s, 16 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pa., with the Arctic Cat 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
APPAREL –
Visit http://www.RyanSmithRacing.com to view the latest apparel options, which include t-shirts and hoodies.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – S&S Speedways
S&S Speedways is a family owned and operated fun center located in Stroudsburg, Pa. For the novice to the racing enthusiast, S&S Speedways showcases an indoor track that assimilates dirt racing with side-by-side action generating lots of smiles. S&S is open 7 days a week offering public racing and private parties by reservation. The lobby offers full track viewing to watch the racing plus video games, a snack bar, pool table and S&S merchandise is available. For more information, visit http://www.SSSpeedways.com.
“S&S Speedways is owned and operated by my mother and father,” Smith said. “They have always been my biggest supporters and I can’t thank them enough. If you are looking for a great family fun experience in the Pocono region than S&S is the place to go.”
Smith would also like to thank Warko Group, G.L.T. Electrical, CnB Chubby, Fighting Angels Foundation, Quality Roofing Supply, East Coast Helicopter Tours, 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 May 11, 2016
- Article Date: 5/11/2016 by Inside Line Promotions