Smith Heats Up with 4th URC Win in 6 Races
Sometimes you have the best car and sometimes you have the best luck. For Mark Smith he has had both when running with the United Racing Club this year. In his 6th start with URC in 2015, Mark Smith and the Mach 1 Chassis sponsored 360 sprint car picked up his 4th win of the year.
With 18 cars signed into the pit area, all drivers made the feature and a consi was not needed. Heat races were on by the 5g Valley Forge Inc, GEI Enterprises of Curt Michael and the 25 Eldreth Construction of Josh Weller. Mark Smith finished 3rd in his heat and when the 6 pill for the feature invert was pulled lady luck stood by Smith rewarded him with the pole for the nightly feature paying $2,000 to win.
Smith and recent 358 winner Kody Lehman lead the field to the green flag. The original start was called back and a 2nd attempt was needed. As Smith and Lehman lead the field to the green the 89 Quality Auto Body of Robbie Stillwaggon shot high to take control of the lead entering turn 1. As Stillwaggon used the high side, the 1m of Mark Smith used the mid grove to throw a slide job of Stillwaggon and overtake the lead.
Smith was on a tear using the high side all the way around the race track. As the 1m took off behind him the rest of the field was battling for position. The 5g of Curt Michael and the 25 of Josh Weller had their eyes on the front passing both Brad Franks and Kody Lehman during the 25 lap event. With 6 laps to go the caution was displayed for a disabled car. Bunching up the field Smith lead with Stillwaggon, Michael, Weller and No Panic Davie Franek rounding out the top 5.
Closely following Smith to the green flag was Stillwaggon. After Stillwaggon was a nice buffer of lapped cars between the 89 and the 5g of Curt Michael. Stillwaggon knew this was his only shot of catching Smith. At the drop of the green Stillwaggon looked to get around Smith entering turn 1 but Smith was able to hold him off exiting turn 2. Smith led the final 6 laps to take the $2,000 payday and his 4th feature event of the 2015 year. Rounding out the top 5 was Stillwaggon, Michael, Weller, and Franek.
Final Results 1. Smith, 2. Stillwaggon, 3. Michael, 4. Weller, 5. Franek, 6. Lehman, 7. Locke, 8. Franks, 9. Gohn, 10. West, 11. Shuster, 12. Whittall, 13. Lutz, 14. Hinkle, 15. Stoudt, 16. Clauss, 17. Tomecek, 18. Stitzel DNS.
- Robbie Stillwaggon on Jul 20, 2015
- Article Date: 7/20/2015 by Tim Moran