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Smith Learns Variety of Lessons Throughout Busy Week of Racing

(Photo by DB3 Imaging)

Inside Line Promotions – FREMONT, Ohio (May 25, 2015) – Ryan Smith is coming off an extremely busy week of racing that featured four races at three tracks in three states.

The competition began last Tuesday at New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, N.J., during the Jersey Outlaw Classic with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. Smith qualified second quickest, placed fourth in a heat race and finished fifth in the dash to line up on the inside of the third row for the main event.

“I fell back to sixth at one point, but passed Joey Saldana to get back in the top five,” he said. “I was racing with Logan (Schuchart) with about eight laps remaining. I had a run off the top and he broke a mag or lost an ignition. I ran into the back of him and it broke our front end. It was a shame because we would have had a top five.”

Smith was unable to restart the race and he was credited with a 22nd-place result.

His team then hauled to Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind., for a UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions event on Friday.

“It was a real small, slick track,” he said. “I had way too much horsepower. We just missed it in time trials. I went with a hard tire and the track never touched tires all night. That put us behind the eight ball. In the feature we were pretty good and we salvaged some points at least.”

Smith, who was making his debut, qualified 30th quickest and placed seventh in a heat race. He was then caught up in an opening-lap crash during the B Main, which forced him to use a provisional to start at the back of the main event. Smith rallied from 25th to a 13th-place finish in the feature to garner the Hard Charger Award.

Smith also made his debut at Fremont Speedway on Saturday for the first night of an All Star doubleheader at the third-mile oval.

“The first night we were pretty good, but we decided to gamble a bit in the main event,” he said. “We figured since we’re starting 10th we’d try something for the feature. That didn’t work.”

Smith timed in 11th quickest and finished second in a heat race to lock himself into the dash, which he placed 10th in to start on the outside of the fifth row for the main event. He battled for a top 10 throughout most of the feature before ending 13th.

The weekend concluded on Sunday at Fremont Speedway, where Smith set quick time during qualifying. He advanced to a third-place result in a heat race and finished second in the dash to start the 50-lap feature on the outside of the front row.

“We were pretty close in the dash,” he said. “I felt like we had a pretty good shot. Before the feature we put our heat race tire back on like a normal deal. The first run we ran about six laps and I was right with (Brady) Bacon. I took the green after the first yellow and went into turn one and the car was like a light switch had gone off. I felt like I never drove a race car in my life. I had no grip and no forward drive. It was terrible.”

Smith’s right rear tire had sealed over during the caution. He struggled to drive the car during the remainder of the feature and ended with a 19th-place finish. However, he continues to rank third in the championship standings.

“It was a learning experience,” he said. “I’ve got to make some phone calls this week and learn about that stuff. If we could have finished that last race up front it would have been a great weekend, but I’m still third in points and we have some notes for our notebook so it was a good weekend.”

Smith will return to All Stars competition this Saturday at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, and Sunday at Millstream Speedway in Findlay, Ohio.

QUICK RESULTS –

May 19 – New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, N.J. – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 4 (4); Dash: 5 (3); Feature: DNF (5).

May 22 – Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind. – Qualifying: 30; Heat race: 7 (7); B Main: DNF (10); Feature: 13 (25).

May 23 – Fremont Speedway in Fremont, Ohio – Qualifying: 11; Heat race: 2 (2); Dash: 10 (10); Feature: 13 (10).

May 24 – Fremont Speedway in Fremont, Ohio – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 3 (4); Dash: 2 (1); Feature: 19 (2).

SEASON STATS –

20 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 7 top 10s, 12 top 15s, 15 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Saturday at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, and Sunday at Millstream Speedway in Findlay, 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 – Warko Group

Warko Group, which is based in Reading, Pa., focuses on general contracting including plumbing, electrical and HVAC.

“This is the second year that Rob Warko of Rainbow Roofing and Warko Group and I have been partnered for our race team,” Smith said. “He puts as much focus and energy in his business as he does the race team, which leads to success on and off the track.”

Smith would also like to thank S&S Speedways, Quality Roofing Supply, G.L.T. Electrical, CnB Chubby, 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.

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