Un Luck-of-the-Draw: Smith Takes Podium Finish

Corpus Christi, Texas (May 17, 2005) – Casey Smith came over the team radio just laps before the green flag fell for the USRA Super Late Model event at Corpus Christi Motor Speedway Saturday night.  “My goal for tonight is to finish all 125 laps and roll the car back into the trailer in one piece” Smith says to his crew.  Smith was confident for the night’s race after he posted the second best qualifying time, but after the last two USRA events proved to be disappointments, Smith was ready to get the bad luck monkey off his back.

Smith maintained consistent speeds all day in Saturday’s practice.  With the sun beating down on the track for practice, Smith was unsure how his car would handle for qualifying and the race. 

Smith qualified his #99 Rapid Disposal Chevrolet second quick behind points leader Brandon Bendele, but when the top six qualifiers drew for their starting position, Smith’s luck of the draw was the number six.

Starting in the outside, 3rd row proved to be challenging and a game of patience at the small ¼ mile track.  At the drop of the green flag, Smith found his way to the bottom of the track as the rest of the field fell-in single file.  Driving smooth and with patience, Smith was conserving his tires while the leader’s were battling it out.  He was soon reeling them in as he found himself in the 3rd position. 

“I was just pacing myself the first half of the race, saving tires for the end.  After the first 70-lap green flag run I radioed and said the car was great.  We went green and the left rear shock mount must have snapped sometime after that because when I set my sight for the leader I had no traction.”

Smith compared his ride around the asphalt track like riding around on a dirt road in a buggy.  With five laps to go, Smith found a nose to the inside for second, but just couldn’t make it stick.

“I got up to (Tommy) Grimes and looked inside of him, but just didn’t have the traction and ran out of laps to make the pass.”

Smith finished Saturday Night’s USRA 125-lap Super Late Model feature event 3rd.  He rolled the dusty #99 into the trailer knowing that his goals for the the next event have now been raised.