Matt Smith advanced to Monday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle quarterfinals of NHRA’s Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and the opening race in the Countdown to 1 title playoffs before losing to Eddie Krawiec at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
“I knew we had a horsepower disadvantage, and it showed,” said the Al-Anabi Racing driver. “In order to beat him, I knew I needed to really get out on him right away.” He gave it his best effort, but missed by a measly two-thousandths of a second and fouled out. Krawiec came in at 6.911 at 192.60 to Smith’s 6.970 at 191.76.
Smith, meanwhile, benefitted from Shawn Gann’s foul start in the opening round and cruised to the win, stopping the clock in 6.955 seconds at 185.18 mph.
