Matt and Angie Smith ready for the Summernationals

Angie Smith looks forward to positive Englishtown result on her Victory Gunner

ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – Victory Motorcycles rider Angie Smith maintains a positive outlook on life in general, so a slow start to the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season isn’t about to get her down.

The veteran racer failed to qualify for the last two Pro Stock Motorcycle events on the NHRA calendar, but the best way to reverse that course is to look forward, not back.

“I always look forward,” Smith said. “You can’t change the past, so you’ve got to look forward, lay down the groundwork of what you’re going to do, and go do it. You can’t dwell on the past because there’s absolutely nothing you can do to change it.

“It’s all about looking forward and being positive and trying to do the best job you can every single lap.”

That positive attitude should serve her well as she tries to get into the field for the NHRA Summernationals this weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Competition has been tough in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class this season, and that will continue in Englishtown, where 26 bikes are entered for 16 spots, making Friday’s qualifying sessions crucial because conditions should be the best that day out of the three days of racing.

“Usually, when we swing for the fence on Fridays, we do pretty good,” Smith said. “I’m hoping that plays out this Friday. We’re going in with the mentality of making two good runs on Friday.”

Smith tested her Victory Gunner at Virginia Motorsports Park this week, making an important discovery with one of her engines. That motor was hurt and likely was damaged at the most recent race, in Atlanta, helping explain her DNQ there.

“It was good we found that out because now we have a fresh bullet in,” Smith said. “We know it’s not hurt, and I think we’ll be better than we have been.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. ET, Friday, and 1:45 and 4:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 9 to 11 a.m., Sunday. Eliminations will air from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday.

Victory Motorcycles’ Matt Smith heads back to site of first career victory

– Even though Victory Motorcycles rider Matt Smith celebrated winning the 2005 U.S. Nationals, the 2006 NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park was officially the first of his 18 Pro Stock Motorcycle victories.

Smith, who returns for the renamed Summernationals this weekend, has two victories in Englishtown, beating veteran Karen Stoffer in the final round both times.

“That’s pretty awesome,” Smith said. “This has been a great track for us. My very first win came here, and then we beat Karen again a second time. I like this place; it’s fast. When it’s cool, it’s really, really fast, and it looks like it’s going to be really fast on Friday here.”

Smith was fast in Indianapolis in 2005, when he raced Steve Johnson in the final round. The win light came on in Smith’s lane, and he was handed the Wally as the winner, but the next day NHRA reversed the victory, using finish-line cameras to show Johnson actually got to the line first.

So one could forgive Smith for wondering if his win light over Stoffer in Englishtown the next season was accurate.

“The year before, I won Indy for my first win and then the next day it got taken back because of the finish-line photo deal,” Smith said. “So Englishtown was my very first win. It was a pretty special day; my mom and dad were there.

“The big question I asked at the top end was, ‘Are you sure?’ I’d already gone through that celebration one time for my first win before it got taken back.”

Yes, NHRA was sure, and Smith was able to take home the Wally.

“That kinda started my career of where we’re at now with 18 wins,” Smith said. “It’s good to be back in Englishtown.”

Smith has since won two Pro Stock Motorcycle championships, and he returned to the Englishtown winner’s circle in 2011.

Smith will enter this year’s event after a month break in the schedule. He and the Victory team tested at Virginia Motorsports Park before heading north to New Jersey, and he’s certainly ready to climb back about the Victory Gunner for competition.

“It’s good to be back racing,” Smith said. “It’s going to be very fast this weekend.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. ET, Friday, and 1:45 and 4:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 9 to 11 a.m., Sunday. Eliminations will air from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday.