DRAG RACING
2018 NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 16 / NOVEMBER 9-11, 2018
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY / POMONA, CALIFORNIA
P58
wise decision because he was
head-and-shoulders above the
rest of the field. In qualifying,
Smith led the field with a 6.754
run, a full three hundreds quicker
than number two seed Arana Jr.,
and Krawiec. Smith also ran his
first 200-mph speed to join the
prestigious Denso Spark Plugs
200-mph Club.
During Sunday's dramatic
final eliminations, Smith had an
easy time in the first round since
he was paired against his wife,
Angie, who did not make the run.
The rest of the day was not as
easy since his opponents, Hector
Arana Sr., Tonglet and Krawiec,
are all former world champions.
Smith easily rode past Arana and
Tonglet, posting two more 200-
mph runs in the process.
"Today wasn't easy," Smith
said. "In the first round an air-
Lucas Oil EBR's Hector Arana
Jr. and Nitro Fish Suzuki's LE
Tonglet was also still very much
in the running for the title. Smith
admitted that he saved his best
engine for the last race of the
season and it proved to be a
on time, hit the shift points, and
keep the bike straight. I managed
to do all that and it was enough to
get the win."
Coming into the Auto Club
Finals, Smith and Krawiec were
separated by just four points and
Krawiec put up
a good fight but
Smith was just
too much at
the final round.
But Krawiec
finished out
the season in
second place.
Third in the 2018 championship went to Hector Arana Jr.
