(Photo by Rick Rarer)
Inside Line Promotions – ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 21, 2015) – Ryan Smith is all smiles following his first appearance at the Kings Royal.
“All in all I was happy with the weekend,” he said. “We didn’t make the big dance on Saturday, but we had a good weekend.”
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series doubleheader at Eldora Speedway began on Friday with Smith qualifying eighth quickest in his group to kick off the Knight Before the Kings Royal. He then won a heat race from the pole position to lock himself into the dash, where an eighth-place result lined him up on the outside of the fourth row for the main event.
“We timed good and caught the inversion for the heat race,” he said. “It was great to win the heat race and get in the dash. I just didn’t free the car up for the dirty air. You carry so much speed and dirty air can be so bad there. I was too tight and went backwards. I learned a lot that night though.”
Smith posted a 17th-place result during the feature.
He returned to the half-mile oval on Saturday for the 32nd annual Kings Royal and timed in 35th quickest overall.
“On Saturday the track was totally different early,” he said. “I thought I hit a pretty good lap in time trials. I don’t think I pulled enough gear out to run the top. That was a lack of experience.”
Following a delay of more than four hours because of a storm Smith advanced from sixth to fifth place in a heat race, which relegated him to the 11th starting position in the Last Chance Showdown.
“It was a tough heat and I didn’t catch any breaks,” he said. “Then in the B Main I couldn’t go anywhere. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but it was an awesome show to be a part of.”
Smith, who placed 13th in the consolation race, returns to UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions action this Friday at Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Mich., and Saturday at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. It will be his debut at both tracks.
“I’m looking forward to both places,” he said. “It will be two new tracks and we seem to be adapting pretty quickly to new tracks.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 17 – Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 8 (7); Feature: 17 (8).
July 18 – Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio – Qualifying: 35; Heat race: 5 (6); B Main: 13 (11).
SEASON STATS –
38 races, 2 wins, 8 top fives, 13 top 10s, 19 top 15s, 27 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Mich., and Saturday at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis., 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, Fighting Angels Foundation, 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.