AUSTIN, TX (July 24, 2006) -- Casey Smith felt confident going into the third Blizzard Series event of the season at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.  He was coming off a strong third place run in May and a few strong finishes in the United States Racing Association (USRA) events in Texas.

Friday’s practice was very productive for the #99 Buchanan Homes, Rapid Disposal Chevrolet Monte Carlo and it showed when he qualified 4th, his best starting position at Five Flags Speedway in 2006.

Casey quietly made his way up to the front, and took the lead on lap 80 during a long green flag run.  Just eight laps short of the checkered flags, a caution came out which allowed the leaders to come in for fresh rubber.  Casey’s team, comprised of his old ASA pit crew and Pensacola natives, made a quick tire change to keep Casey in the lead with Augie Grill, Dave Mader, III, Scott Carlson, and Johnny Brazier behind him.

Per the Blizzard Series rules, the final five laps must be run under green.  This caused the Digital 100 Blizzard Series event to go into overtime.  It was Casey, Augie Grill and Mader on the re-start at lap 107.  Grill jumped to the inside of Casey on the restart and Mader drove in low under Grill to make it three-wide.  Unfortunately, contact between the three cars resulted in an accident that ended Smith’s evening and cost him a potential win.

“We were told in the driver’s meeting on starts and restarts that you could not pass nor make an attempt to pass until you got to the start/finish line” Smith explained.  “On the restart Augie came off the corner and ducked to the inside way before the start/finish line, which is considered jumping the start – no big deal.  I get up to him, got to the outside of him and committed to the pass, then Mader drives in the grass to make it three-wide going into three.  Augie pushed up into me, and there is no more track, so I end up in the wall.”

When the checkers finally flew, Casey was credited with a disappointing 18th place finish.  Mader took the win and Grill finished second.

“It’s a shame because we definitely had the car to win tonight, just came up a few laps short.”

Casey Smith was scheduled to run on Saturday night at Mobile International Speedway.  Casey would drive his teammate’s car which he built and maintains from his Austin, Texas shop, so it is very similar to his own.  He qualified 9th, but threatening rain would cause the officials to cancel the running of the Miller Lite Super Late Model 100 Event #4 which has been rescheduled for August 12, 2006.

Casey is scheduled to appear in-studio on the Motorsports Zone at 10:00 am (Central Standard Time) on Saturday, July 29th.  Austin area listeners can tune into AM 1300 or live on-line broadcast at www.am1300thezone.com.