DRAG RACING
NHRA PREVIEW
PREVIEW
P80
strong at the end of last year,
and the Suzukis have more cu-
bic inches this year, so it's going
to be the toughest year ever," he
said. "Everyone is going to be so
tough; last year seemed hard, but
this year will be even more so. The
Buells will be as strong as they
were last year and the Suzuki's,
who I thought had a good year last
year, too, will be even tougher."
Someone who can sympa-
thize with Matt Smith's sponsor-
ship situation is Star Racing team
owner George Bryce, who also
lost a significant amount of fund-
ing when his European partner,
Sovereign owner Jeno Rujp,
encountered legal issues in his
native Hungary that prevented
him from returning as the team's
backer. Bryce, however, plans
to soldier on with riders Michael
Ray and rookie Chaz Kennedy.
"It's unfortunate that we lost
our sponsor, but it happens,"
Ray said. "During the offseason,
we've continued working and
testing, which says a lot about
our team. I'm still looking forward
to going to Gainesville. I don't
know what the bike will look like
or what logos will be on it, and I
don't really care as long it's fast
and going rounds."
Kennedy, who figures to be
one of the leading contenders
for the Automobile Club of South-
ern California Road to the Future
award, also believes the team
can continue to contend.
"All race teams have their ups
and downs. We just have to work
through it and do the best we
can with the cards we have been
dealt," Kennedy said. "I still be-
lieve we have all the manpower,
willpower, and horsepower we
need to be just as successful as
we were last year. I'm also look-
ing forward to competing for the
Rookie of the Year Award, which
would be nice to add to my other
two Rookie of the Year Awards
from AHDRA and AMRA."
Back to the Suzuki teams,
there is now hope for a lengthy
championship run among most
loyalists, including veteran Steve
Johnson, who will begin his 28th
straight season of NHRA com-
petition in Gainesville. Johnson
acknowledged that the rule is a
good thing for the Suzuki contin-
Star Racing's
Michael Ray is
another facing
sponsorship
problems
for the 2014
season.
