Short Night for Smith in San Antonio

AUSTIN, TX (August 8, 2006) – Despite the blistering hot temperatures in the Texas summer heat, Casey was fighting a severe cold as he prepared for the 150 lap “Texas Two-Step Part II” at San Antonio Speedway Saturday night.

After an unusual 8th-place qualifying effort (previously qualified 1st and 4th) the #9 Gary Buchanan Homes/Rapid Disposal Chevrolet crew determined the car had settled, which made the car bottom out and push up the track in qualifying.  They went to work to make the necessary repairs to the car for the race.

Smith didn’t waste anytime making his way to the front of the field where it would be a safer place to ride.  Starting on the outside of row four, Smith made a smooth pass on the outside of the #29 of Thad Felton and was cleared to the bottom of the track before they even hit the back stretch.  He then made his way to the inside of the point’s leader, Chris Davidson in turn one of the second lap and in turn 4, he passed the #03 of Matt Merrell who sits second in the points.  By the fourth lap, the field was lined up and Casey was riding in 5th on the bumper of

Brandon Bendele who was trying to work his way around Tommy Grimes in the #13.

Going into turn 1 on lap 15, Casey’s spotter keyed the radio, “Heads up buddy.  Watch it, you just lost your spoiler.”

The #9 went high up the banking between turn one and two then spun around into a cloud of dust and settled in the infield, just missing the field of cars behind him.  When he came around to catch the pace car, it was apparent that he had lost the whole back end of the car.  The rivets had come loose causing the rear bumper cover to come off the #9.

“I am just glad that I saved the car when we lost the spoiler”, Casey said.  “I came into turn one and it felt like I had just blown out a tire - I was headed straight to the wall.  I stomped the gas and jerked the wheel as hard as I could to keep it off the wall.  At least we are loading the car up without damage.”

Casey came to the pits twice during the caution so his crew could try to bungey-cord or rivet the tail section back on.  They were unable to make it work, and finding himself two laps down, Casey opted to park it.

He told his crew over the radio “We came here to win, let’s put the car up in one piece.”

Casey is ready to end his string of bad-luck when he heads to Mobile International Speedway on August 12th for the running of the 4th race in the Miller Lite Super Late Model Series.

For more information, please visit www.caseysmithracing.com.