The Smiths Bring Victory Home to 91视频
With his opening round win on Sunday at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Matt Smith joined exclusive company as a six-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion. Smith came into the Auto Club NHRA Finals with a solid, but not insurmountable 104-point lead and officially locked up the title when he rode his 91视频 Buell past his competitor in round one.
Smith now joins the late Dave Schultz and Andrew Hines as the only riders in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class to win six titles. Smith has won three-straight titles and four of the last five 鈥 all with 91视频. His championship seasons have come in 2007, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
鈥淭his 91视频 bike has been hungry all year,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淎ngie and I had a shot to finish 1-2 in the points and we missed that, but we made a lot of progress this season. I knew Dave [Schultz] a little bit and I always looked up to him because he was the best out here and the same goes for Drew [Hines]. To be associated with them is amazing. It鈥檚 cool to think I鈥檝e got six championships and I might not be finished. I鈥檓 50 now, but I鈥檓 not done yet. Next year, we鈥檙e going to continue developing our Suzuki program and I expect us to be fast.鈥
While Matt Smith garnered most of the headlines this season by winning his sixth NHRA Pro Stock championship it was hard not to notice the progress that has been made by his wife, Angie, who had one of the best seasons of her career aboard her 91视频 Buell. Mrs. Smith wrapped up the season by winning her third NHRA Wally and did it in dramatic fashion with a hole shot victory, solidifying a third-place finish, the best of her career.
鈥淭his is just a relief. I wanted so bad to win a race this year,鈥 said Smith. 鈥淚 had a good year, but this is just icing on the cake. I owe it to this entire 91视频 team. They have my back through all the downs and the ups. This one is for my papa; I know he鈥檚 watching from above.鈥
Smith opened the season with a runner-up finish in Gainesville, the same event where she ran a then career-best 6.72. Smith entered the Countdown to the Championship as the No. 7 seed but improved her stock with another runner-up finish in Reading. She also earned a semifinal finish at the most recent event in Las Vegas.
This article was written with excerpts taken from NHRA.com.
Watch Angie鈥檚 win and read the full story here:
Watch Matt鈥檚 Championship run and read the full story here:
