VOLUME 58 ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 12, 2021 P41
conditions in Norwalk earlier in
the year we won that race, and
I looked back in my notes. With
Angie beating Angelle [Sam-
pey] and two of our bikes in the
semis, you can't ask for much
more than that. It was a good
weekend for MSR."
Smith has led the standings
after eight of 11 races this sea-
son, and now has a slim eight-
point margin with three races
remaining in Bristol, Tennessee,
Las Vegas, Nevada and Pomona,
California. The points picture
took a dramatic turn when
Sampey, the number-two rider
entering the event, lost to Angie
Smith in round two. Johnson,
the incoming points leader on
his MacRak Suzuki, was the top
qualifier but suffered a potentially
crippling blow when his bike
would not start before his semifi-
nal race against Arana.
Arana Jr. has taken a step
back this season and was com-
peting in just his fourth event
of 2021, but he was very com-
petitive with wins against Kelly
Clontz, White Alligator Suzuki's
Jerry Savoie and Johnson. The
final round was Arana's first since
he won the Four-Wide Nationals
in Las Vegas in 2019. Ironically,
he defeated Smith in the final
round of that event. Arana had
also beaten Smith in five-straight
final rounds until his loss in Dal-
las.
There will be no rest for the
Pro Stock Motorcycle class as
they head to Bristol, Tennes-
see, next weekend to continue
the fight for the Camping World
NHRA world title. NHRA's two-
wheel racers have never raced
in Bristol, except for a short-lived
exhibition event held in 1999-
2000.
Kevin McKenna
FINAL
1. Matt Smith (Bue)
2. Hector Arana Jr. (Bue)
Smith went up against Hector Arana
Jr. in the final. Arana red-lighted,
handing the win to Smith.