Smith Scores Podium Finish With All Stars At Atomic

Story By: SHAWN MILLER / LEIDIG, WARKO, SMITH RACING – CHILLICOTHE, OH – The countless hours of hard work the newly formed Leidig/Warko/Smith racing team put in upon their return to Pennsylvania following their Florida racing swing in February paid off last weekend.

Ryan Smith raced to a podium finish on Sunday with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions at Atomic Speedway. The result propelled him into ninth place in the championship standings.

However, it was a race on Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., that helped lead Smith to the podium finish the ensuing night.

“We had an issue with a left front shock,” he said. “I don’t know how, but it didn’t get taken out of the trailer after Florida. But, that’s why we ran Saturday. I wouldn’t have run third Sunday if not for the 18th-place finish on Saturday.”

Smith started last in his heat race and salvaged a seventh-place finish to open the event at Lincoln Speedway. He then won the B Main to start near the rear of the field in the main event. Smith advanced to an 18th-place result.

“We fired the guy who drew the pill; I’m not allowed to draw any more,” he joked. “It did help us sort through the car and that’s why we ran Saturday.”

The results improved on Sunday at Atomic Speedway, where Smith qualified eighth quickest out of the nearly 40 cars. He ran second in his heat race, putting him in a dash. He won the dash to lock into the pole position for the main event.

Smith battled for a podium position throughout the feature before ending third.

“After watching the video I should have jumped right to the top and cruised there for a while,” he said. “It took me four or five laps to get going so those early cautions hurt us. At the end we had run the leaders down and were getting faster. Considering how things went in Florida this was a big step forward for us.”

Smith will head to Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., this Friday before rejoining the All Stars at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, on Saturday for the HD Supply Spring Nationals.

“We’re going to do a little more testing at Williams Grove and then head to Attica,” he said. “I’m excited to get back to Attica. I won the Spring Nationals there two years ago.”