DRAG RACING
2018 NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 16 / NOVEMBER 9-11, 2018
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY / POMONA, CALIFORNIA
P60
millions of dollars while I'm out
here racing on nickels and dimes
is very gratifying. It just shows
the kind of support I have behind
me." CN
FINAL
1. Matt Smith (EBR)
2. Eddie Krawiec (H-D)
FINAL 2018 NHRA PRO STOCK
MOTORCYCLE STANDINGS
1. Matt Smith (2666)
2. Eddie Krawiec (2627)
3. Hector Arana Jr (2536)
4. LE Tonglet (2532)
5. Jerry Savoie (2464)
6. Andrew Hines (2450)
7. Angelle Sampey (2349)
8. Angie Smith (2303)
9. Steve Johnson (2290)
10. Scotty Pollacheck (2258)
V-twin bike out of storage, and
that proved to be a wise deci-
sion. At midseason, he was able
to add the new EBR body, which
is acknowledged to be the best
aero kit in the class. During the
Countdown to the Champion-
ship, NHRA's six-race playoffs to
determine the champion, Smith
was almost unstoppable with
three wins and a runner-up fin-
ish. His overall record during the
six events was 16-3.
"The way this season started,
[I] would have never thought it
would end like this," Smith said.
"This is my third championship
but it's special. Granted, the
Harley-Davidson team is a class
act. They are the reason why
we have motorcycles out here
but to beat the people who get
line broke and in the second we
broke a transmission. Both times,
my guys stayed calm and did
their jobs and got the bike fixed
in time to make the next run. The
fact that we were able to make
three 200-mph runs and win the
race is a testament to my team
and all the people I work with."
In celebrating his 23rd career
victory and third world cham-
pionship, Smith couldn't help
but think back to the start of the
2018 season where he did not
run quick enough to qualify for
the season-opening event in
Gainesville. At that race, Smith
was riding a Suzuki as part of a
partnership that dissolved after
just one race. Ranked number
17 in the class after the first race,
Smith was forced to bring his
Smith and the winning Elite
Performance EBR Team.
