VOLUME 57 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 3, 2020 P29
Mr. & Mrs.
Smith
Dominate
NHRA Las
Vegas Finals
T
he husband and wife team of
Matt and Angie Smith pulled
off a clean sweep of the Pro Stock
Motorcycle class at the season-
ending Dodge NHRA Finals in Las
Vegas, October 30-November
1. Angie rode her Denso EBR to
the second win of her career by
beating Slick 50 Suzuki's Steve
Johnson. The win came just hours
after Matt clinched his fourth
NHRA Camping World Drag Rac-
ing Series world title.
Racing in her second NHRA fi-
nal, Angie Smith rode to a 6.91 for
the victory, holding off Johnson's
6.99 effort. The final was much
closer than the numbers made
it look after Johnson grabbed a
big holeshot at the starting line.
The difference between the two
bikes at the finish line was just
.007-second. Smith's first win
came at the 2014 Epping round
when she defeated Matt in the
all-Smith final.
"You never know when you're
going to get back here," said
Smith. "It's important to never give
up on your dreams. You can do
anything if you put your mind to it.
I need to thank Denso and Mark
Stockseth and everyone who
helps us. I also need to thank my
team for building me up. They've
told me to never give up. Some-
times, I know I'm a pain in the butt,
but they've always got my back."
The final day of the season
featured a lot of drama especially
when it came to the champion-
ship. Matt Smith entered the race
as the leader, but teammate Scotty
Pollacheck, and Harley-Davidson
riders Eddie Krawiec and Andrew
Hines were all still in the running.
All three riders lost in the quarter-
final round handing Matt his fourth
series championship.
Angie, who joined the Denso
200-mph Pro Stock Motorcycle
club this season, came from the
number five spot, to earn wins
against Katie Sullivan, Pollacheck
and Arana Jr. who fouled on
his Lucas Oil EBR. The second
all-Smith final never materialized
after Matt's bike would not start in
his semi-final race against John-
son, who reached the final for the
23rd time in his career.
Kevin McKenna
PRO STOCK FINAL
1. Angie Smith (EBR)
2. Steve Johnson (Suz)
(Above) Matt
Smith captured the
2020 NHRA Pro
Stock Motorcycle
Championship at the
season-ending Las
Vegas round. (Left)
Angie Smith took
the win in the Las
Vegas final.
