Opting to Run Buell, Matt Smith Qualifies No. 1 in Denver

Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith raced to the provisional No. 1 spot at the 42nd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, after opting to park his new Suzuki and roll out his “Red Rocket” v-twin. 

Smith lowered the boom on Saturday in Pro Stock Motorcycle, setting both ends of the Bandimere Speedway track record with an impressive blast of 7.090 at 189.79 on his Denso Auto Parts Buell. The defending world champ and event winner set the track record on Friday but delivered in an even bigger way to close out qualifying, becoming the first motorcycle to go in the 7.00s on Thunder Mountain. It gives Smith his second No. 1 this season and 49th in his career, and plenty of confidence heading into eliminations after a stellar two days of qualifying.

 

“The Suzuki bikes were stepping up (today), so I tried a tune-up and obviously it worked,” Smith said. “It’s awesome (to set a record). I’ve always loved coming here and we come here to win the race. That was the whole reason why we brought out the (EBR) for this race. There might be a little more, but we definitely learned something today. As long as you ride the bike well and hit the light well, you can do well here, but we’ve got the bike on kill every time up here.”

 

Smith’s wife, Angie, qualified second thanks to her 7.151 at 188.25 in the final qualifying session, while Eddie Krawiec’s 7.164 at 186.56 gives him the third spot heading into eliminations.

 

Eliminations for the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Television coverage of the race begins at 4 p.m. ET on the FOX broadcast network.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Matt Smith, EBR, 7.090, 189.79 vs. Bye; 2. Angie Smith, EBR, 7.150, 187.34 vs. 13. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 7.382, 178.95; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 7.164, 186.56 vs. 12. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.334, 181.20; 4. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.171, 186.95 vs. 11. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.334, 182.30; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.180, 183.67 vs. 10. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.286, 184.88; 6. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 7.183, 185.28 vs. 9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.276, 184.90; 7. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 7.215, 184.95 vs. 8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.240, 184.52.

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