The long wait is over for Angie Smith.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle racer, who made her NHRA debut in 2004, finally was able to take home her first Wally Sunday at the 2014 NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.

It was a win-win for Smith as she raced her husband Matt Smith in the finals. This was the first time in NHRA history a husband and wife raced against each other in a final round.

Angie clocked a 6.905-second run at 191.89 mph, while Matt saw his chance at victory slip away when he had engine problems just after the 1,000-foot mark and he slowed to 7.230 seconds at 145.99 mph.

“It has been quite a journey,” said Angie, who was piloting the Kandy Racing Buell. “The final round I had to race my husband, which was crazy. I knew I had to just go up there and make a good run and do my job. My lights have been so close, I’ve been double 0, I had to squeeze the lever. What I didn’t want to do, is I didn’t want to give it up on the starting line. I didn’t want to redlight. I squeezed it a little too hard and I knew I was late because he shot out. I never want to wish bad luck on people, but I’m glad his motor blew up because if it didn’t he would be standing here right now. In this sport, I will take it any way I can get, it is my first one (Wally) and I’m proud to be here.”

Angie admitted becoming emotional moments after her memorable win.

“I was in the shutdown area and I was crying, I was screaming, I was just happy,” Angie said. “I can’t even describe to you what it feels like because we’ve worked so hard. You honestly don’t know if you are going to get the opportunity to hoist that Wally. I finally got to do it and it was pretty emotional.”

Nothing came easy for Angie Sunday as she defeated Jim Underdahl, and multiple time world champion Harley-Davidson riders Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines before besting her husband.

Angie used a holeshot – an .003 light – to upset Krawiec, who was the No. 1 qualifier.

“Eddie has whooped me so many times in the last seven years, I lost track. I stopped counting,” Angie said. “I owed him a lot and I just wanted this one. I knew I had to do my job. When I plugged it into fourth gear, I looked up because I didn’t see him and I didn’t hear him, and I looked up to see if my win light was on and it wasn’t, and so I just stayed tucked and we turned on the win light which was very important, especially with the Harleys as good as they’ve been running.”

Angie Smith has competed in 82 career NHRA national events and Matt Smith has raced in 167 career races, winning 17 times, highlighted by his two world championships in 2007 and 2013.

“Honestly, I’m really tired of dusting all of his Wallys,” Angie said. “I at least want to dust one of mine at the house and now I’m good with that.”

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