FLAT TRACK
AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 15 / SEPTEMBER 2, 2018
ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS / SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
P66
back and didn't have a great run
off four. The headwind let me get
enough of a draft to go by Mees
by an inch. I didn't think I was
going to get up next to him."
"Once I was in second going
into three I just had to sit on his
bumper as close as I could.
He gapped me a little through
the middle. I got a little run and
went sideways," added Smith.
"I just didn't know. I was just
guy, you get a tow into three.
You are still in the draft and can
pull out on one guy. Mees' draft
was sucking me in; it's scary as
hell. You want to pass the one
guy, but not go too fast to blow
the groove. The wind did exag-
gerate the draft enormously off
turn four. I was probably too far
put on a clinic for the two young
challengers.
The race for the win came
down to the last lap and a
sprint to turn three. "Carver
came around us and the plan
changed," said Smith. "I figured I
had to try to be second. I luckily
threaded the needle to go by
Carver and didn't go past too
hard to screw me up and run into
Mees. When you are the third
Smith celebrates a milestone
victory at the 100th running of the
Springfield Mile.
