Casey Smith Heads to "Sweet Home Alabama" to Defend Viper Win

When the popular Southern rock band “Lynyrd Skynyrd” penned the hit song “Sweet Home Alabama,” the theme wasn't written around 22-year-old Casey Smith's 2007 racing season, but the tune matches Casey's turn-around since going to Alabama to race his super late model in May.

In the chart-topping hit, the band strikes out the line “ Sweet home Alabama where the skies are so blue, Sweet home Alabama, Lord I'm coming home to you”.  Those lines were echoing through Casey's mind as he stood in South Alabama Speedway's Victory Lane in early May after scoring his Super Late Model victory in his first Viper Series race at the South Alabama 4/10th-mile asphalt oval.  Casey has raced the “Rattler” at South Alabama for two years running, competing against some of the stiffest competition in short track racing.  Although he was fast and ran up front, luck was never on Casey's side to take the win.

When the USRA Super Late Model Series folded in Texas this year, Casey needed to make a home for his Super Late Model and traveled to South Alabama Speedway in Opp, Alabama.  He dominated the season opener on May 5th in the Viper Series, and now he'll be back at South Alabama with his Gary Buchanan Custom Homes/Rapid Disposal #99 team to defend their victory on July 28th.

“I feel really good at this point of the season,” said Casey.  “The win at South Alabama in Opp, Alabama was definitely a high point of my season and I'm excited to go back there and try to repeat it.  I think we made some improvements and that we will be even better than we were the last time.  It would be great to get a top three, but I would like to win again.”

The first Viper Series race at South Alabama Speedway in Opp, Alabama came just a week after a third-place run at Mobile International Speedway (AL).  That was the race that started the turn-around, but since Mobile, Casey has two wins, and has finished outside of the top-two only twice.

"We've been having a lot of fun this year.  It's fun when you're running up front like you want to be, South Alabama is an awesome facility.  When I first got into Super Late Models (at age 15) they were hosting a Southern All-Star race.  I set fast time that night so it has always been one of my favorite short tracks. You need a good setup because it is hard to make a car turn, its loose in and loose off and with the new asphalt it makes it hard to pass," stated Casey.  "We dominated in May. It's awesome when you unload fast, set fast time, and take the win.  It definitely makes it where everyone is gunning for you and that's a better feeling than going and feeling like an underdog, that's for sure."

Casey and his #99 team return to Alabama hoping to find Skies So Blue! (coming from rain in Texas) for the running of the Diamondback 125 – Viper Series Race #2.  Casey currently leads the Viper Series points by ten marks over Ryan Sieg.

The Viper event at South Alabama Speedway will take the green flag Saturday, July 28th at approximately 8:00 pm CT.