Smith Dominates Newest
NHRA Race in Georgia
D
enso Buell's Matt Smith
dominated from start to fin-
ish at NHRA's newest Pro Stock
Motorcycle event, the Southern
Nationals, held at South Georgia
Motorsports Park in Adel, Geor-
gia, May 1-3.
The six-time World Champion
capped off a picture-perfect
weekend with his first win of the
2026 season, defeating RevZilla/
Vance & Hines Suzuki's Richard
Gadson in the final round with a
run of 6.724 at 202.06 mph. The
win marked Smith's 43rd in 87
career final rounds.
In the final round, Gadson left
first, but Smith, who was named
to NHRA's Top 75 Driver list
before the season, tracked him
down, demonstrating a motor
-
cycle that has been a step ahead
of everyone else.
"This is not only rewarding
for me, but it's rewarding for our
team, because we worked so
hard this winter to find a little bit
of power," Smith said. "We found
some power, and we're showing
it. We've been the number-one
qualifier for three races in a row
now. We just hadn't shown up on
Sunday, and I'm glad we showed
up today. We needed this win. It
was important not to let those
other [Vance & Hines] guys get
too far out in front of us. We've
got momentum now."
As Smith noted, he'd been the
number-one qualifier at each of
the first two races this season.
He did so again this weekend
with a 6.699-second run, setting
the track elapsed-time record.
Smith also made several runs
over 203 mph.
In eliminations, Smith was un
-
touchable, including a 6.685-sec-
ond run in his win over Trick
Tools Suzuki's Chase Van Sant.
Smith also got past his wife,
WIND
IN THE
P44
Matt Smith captured
his first win of the
year in Georgia.
