5/18/2015
Inside Line Promotions
Smith Scores Podium Finish with World of Outlaws During Gettysburg Clash
(Photo by Rick Rarer)
Inside Line Promotions – MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (May 18, 2015) – Ryan Smith registered his first podium finish of the season with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series last Wednesday during the Gettysburg Clash.
Smith faced the lucky No. 3 throughout the event at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., where he qualified third quickest before finishing third in his heat race, the dash and the main event.
“I was even third quickest in practice,” he joked. “I should have played the No. 3 in the lottery. It definitely helps drawing a good number to start the night, but we were good.”
Smith was on point from the first green flag of the night as his third-place qualifying effort set the team up for the remainder of the event.
“The World of Outlaws format locked the top four qualifiers into the dash,” he said. “I just had to make sure I finished in the top five of my heat race and we were onto the dash. It sets you up right. You don’t have an uphill battle all night.”
Smith did just that and he maintained the third position throughout the dash. That lined him up on the inside of the second row for the main event, which began with Smith powering into second place on the opening lap.
“I got caught sleeping on a restart midway through the race,” he said. “I was planning on going early and (Greg) Hodnett went earlier than I did. That was a turning point. Then I got hung on the bottom behind Stevie (Smith) and made a couple of mistakes and (Brad) Sweet got by me. We had one more restart and I was able to get him back and focus on Stevie.”
He closed to the rear bumper of Stevie Smith on the final lap, but was unable to get around him. Ryan Smith’s third-place result was his best World of Outlaws finish at Lincoln Speedway.
The team brought out a new car for Friday’s opener of the World of Outlaws doubleheader at Williams Grove Speedway, where the new car had been debuted the prior weekend.
“I had a fuel pickup problem in qualifying,” he said. “It wasn’t set up right. Once I went into turn one on the green flag lap it sputtered in the corners. The car was really good. If I would have had full fuel and full power I think we could have caught the heat race inversion. There were just some bugs we had to work on with the new car.”
Smith timed in 21st quickest during qualifying, which lined him up on the outside of the third row of a heat race. He picked up a position to claim one of the five lock-in positions to the main event.
However, Smith pulled off midway through the feature after starting and running at the back.
“It’s tough to go anywhere starting in the back,” he said. “We set up for the bottom and middle hoping the track would blow off, but it was hammer down around the top. I wasn’t going to be able to get up there to the top 10 or top 15 so it was the smart decision to pull into the pits early.”
Saturday’s Morgan Cup event was rained out at Williams Grove Speedway.
Smith will compete with the World of Outlaws this Tuesday at New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, N.J., for the Jersey Outlaw Classic before embarking upon a UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions tripleheader next Friday at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind., and Saturday and Sunday at Fremont Speedway in Fremont, Ohio.
“I got my first win at New Egypt last year,” he said. “It’s a good track for us. I’m really looking forward to it. And I’ve never been to Plymouth or Fremont. We have a good base package so I’m not afraid to go to a new track. It’s just a matter of me figuring the track out quickly.”
Smith ranks third in the All Star championship standings.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 13 – Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 3 (4); Dash: 3 (3); Feature: 3 (3).
May 15 – Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. – Qualifying: 21; Heat race: 5 (6); Feature: DNF (20).
SEASON STATS –
16 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 7 top 10s, 10 top 15s, 12 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Tuesday at New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, N.J., for the Jersey Outlaw Classic with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series; Friday at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind., and Saturday and Sunday at Fremont Speedway in Fremont, Ohio, 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, 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.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
