Progress made in Norwalk has Victory Motorcycles pro Angie Smith excited about future
NORWALK, OH – Progress in NHRA drag racing is usually made in the tiniest of increments. The timing system 
itself tracks racers to 10-thousandths of a second; such is the nip-and-tuck nature of the sport at its highest level.
Victory Motorcycles factory rider Angie Smith threw that philosophy out the window this weekend during the 10th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, making what she called one of the biggest jumps of her career in qualifying for the elimination field for the first time since the Pro Stock Motorcycle season opener in mid-March.
“I’m about as happy as I’ve been all year,” Smith said. “I’ve finally got my riding to match what this Victory Gunner can do. My head is clear and my focus is there. It’s like a brand-new start for me. I feel great.”
A veteran rider with more than 100 professional starts under her belt, the past national event winner knows what life is like at the top of the sport, so the act of qualifying isn’t exactly a breakthrough for her. But Smith says the relative newness of her team’s Victory partnership and the associated growing pains they’ve experienced this year have reset her expectations a bit.
“This is me and Matthew’s (Smith’s husband, teammate, and tuner) second year with Victory, and we sometimes need to remind ourselves that we’re going up against brands that have been out here for years and years,” Smith said. “That’s not to say we don’t have big ideas and goals with Victory that we expect to accomplish very soon; it’s just a reminder that you have to let things happen and show some patience, something I’m really not very good at, to be honest.
“So yes, the smiles came a little easier last night and I think we all slept a little better knowing Matthew and I were both in the field and the other two team’s Matthew helps also ran well and made the cut. This isn’t easy out here. We’re up against the very best riders and teams in the world. Nothing comes easy.”
Although Smith bowed out early Sunday, losing in Round 1 to L.E. Tonglet when a “$2 part” caused her to break on the starting line, she is bullish on what she can do at the next tour stop two weeks from now in Chicago.
“I wish it started tomorrow because now that I have my confidence back, I’m super excited to jump back on the bike and race,” Smith said. “The next step is qualifying in the top half of the field and turning on a bunch of win lights for Victory.”
