ESTN 2008 - LAST TEST FOR PSM
Fri, 2008-02-29 06:38
The NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle entry list for the 9th annual CSR Eastern Spring Test Nationals presented by Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com confirms one thing – South Georgia Motorsports Park [SGMP] will be buzzing with the leading teams getting in one last test session before the season begins. As many as 14 top teams, including the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith, will take advantage of nearly identical conditions to those expected the following weekend during the NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.
Smith expects to put his NitroFish-sponsored Buell through its paces
Thursday through Saturday during this annual event which brings a national event
atmosphere to the Valdosta, Georgia community.
“We’re going to bring in the same tune-up we finished out last season,”
said Smith, who won the 2007 NHRA championship on the final run of the season.
“We have a lot of things we’ll be trying out during ESTN.”
One thing Smith finds particularly exciting is getting to perform in front
of fans when the level of pressure is not as high.
The NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle entry list for the 9th annual CSR Eastern Spring
Test Nationals presented by Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com confirms one thing –
South Georgia Motorsports Park [SGMP] will be buzzing with the leading teams
getting in one last test session before the season begins. As many as 14 top
teams, including the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith,
will take advantage of nearly identical conditions to those expected the
following weekend during the NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals in Gainesville,
Florida.
Smith expects to put his NitroFish-sponsored Buell through its paces Thursday through Saturday during this annual event which brings a national event atmosphere to the Valdosta, Georgia community.
“We’re going to bring in the same tune-up we finished out last season,”
said Smith, who won the 2007 NHRA championship on the final run of the season.
“We have a lot of things we’ll be trying out during ESTN.”
One thing Smith finds particularly exciting is getting to perform in front
of fans when the level of pressure is not as high.
“Even when we are loaded down with work I try to make time for the fans,”
Smith said. “The fans really get me pumped up. There are a lot of people that
really don’t take the time to talk to the fans. I like to hang out with them the
best that I can.”
Smith’s interaction extends to a personal MySpace.com page, a social
networking website.
”I even try to respond to virtually everyone I can,” Smith said. “That’s
why I get excited when the ESTN event rolls around because of that kind of
opportunity to test and get to hear the fans cheering us on.”
Team owner and veteran crew chief George Bryce, whose team is based in
nearby Americus, Georgia, said the event provides the same atmosphere as a
pre-season exhibition game for stick and ball sports. The conditions his team
will face are nearly identical to those he’ll encounter the following
weekend.
“This is like the football scrimmages where you actually get to put your
pads on and run plays and make tackles,” said Bryce, who is a multi-time world
championship tuner. “This event gets the competitive juices to flowing for us.
All the other classes have had two other events, but we are getting ready for
our first one. We couldn’t ask for a better dress rehearsal than ESTN
provides.
“All throughout the off-season, we’ve made lap after lap in the same lane
with no one alongside of us. On this weekend, there’s a living, breathing drag
racer alongside of this. We’re racing more than just the clock this time.”
Bryce will be testing a new rider aboard the G2 Motorsports Buell during
ESTN. He’ll also find time to work with the Klement Racing team who recently
signed former world champion Angelle Sampey.
Other notable drivers entered include newly signed Don Schumacher racing
rider Chip Ellis, Factory Harley-Davidson riders Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec
as well as front-runner Karen Stoffer.
The popular Fast News Network will chronicle the weekend’s runs and post on
www.dragracecentral.com.
To see the complete pre-entry list and news about the event – visit Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com – ESTN Event Page
http://www.competitionplus.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5099&Itemid=24
http://www.competitionplus.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5099&Itemid=24
The official SGMP website is http://www.sgmpracing.com.
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