DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., will serve as the lead sponsor of Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Angie Smith at the upcoming NHRA Carolina Nationals. The Sept. 15-17 races take place at Smith’s hometown racetrack, zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C.

The event is the first of the Countdown to the Championship, the six final race weekends of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Only the top 10 competitors qualify for the Countdown, based on total points earned over 10 hard-fought Pro Stock Motorcycle contests leading up to the final races.

“I’m really excited that DENSO is sponsoring me for the first race of the Countdown,” said Smith. “It’s a huge accomplishment just to be one of the 10 riders competing for the championship. I’m focused on doing my best for DENSO and my team.”

With the addition of the Carolina Nationals, DENSO is serving as Smith’s lead sponsor for a total of five weekend events in the 2017 Mello Yello series. Two have already taken place: the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals series opener held April 28-30 at zMAX Dragway and the Toyota Sonoma Nationals held July 28-30 in California. The remaining two are Countdown events: the Sept. 29-Oct. 1 AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals in Illinois and the Oct. 26-29 Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas.

Born and raised in Kernersville, N.C., Smith started racing competitively in the Outlaw Pro Street class where she was known by her maiden name, Angie McBride. In 2004, she captured the Outlaw Pro Street championship. During those years, a fierce rivalry ensued with competitor Matt Smith. A top-ranked Pro Stock Motorcycle racer with 18 career wins to date under his belt, he invited her to join Matt Smith Racing in 2008.

The couple married in 2009 and are the only husband-and-wife teammates in the NHRA. Both qualified for the upcoming Countdown and will complete against each other for the 2017 Pro Stock Motorcycle championship.

In addition to sponsoring Angie Smith, DENSO is a product sponsor of Matt Smith Racing. DENSO also served as the title sponsor of the March 31-April 2 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and is a supporting sponsor of all 24 races in the 2017 Mello Yello series.