Ryan Smith Grabs First Win with Heffner Racing

Ryan Smith Grabs First Win with Heffner Racing

Story By: Mandee Pauch/MPR

Photos By: Dan DeMarco/RacersGuide.com

Mandee Pauch Relations – April 30, 2019 –Saturday evening saw Ryan Smith and the Heffner Racing No.72 machine at Port Royal Speedway doing double duty in both the 410 and 360 sprint car.

“We opened the night with the 410 heats,” Ryan Smith said. “They did the heat race with passing points. We ran six laps, checkered it, then inverted it and ran another six laps. We started third in first segment and finished second then started seventh in the second segment and finished fourth.”

Smith’s efforts had him sixth overall after his heat race, lining him up on the outside of the third row for the 410 main event.

“I was up to fourth,” he said. “If we didn’t have a yellow, I may have had a shot for third, but we’ve been battling a little bit of a tire issue lately so the more yellows we’ve been having, the car hasn’t been coming back so we need to work on that. I think we’ve pinpointed the issue Saturday night.”

Smith rounded out a solid fifth-place finish.

First time out in the 360 sprint with the Heffner Racing team, Smith clinched the heat race from his second-place starting spot, placing him into the top-nine redraw.

With luck of the draw, Smith drew eighth for the 360 main event.

“Kyle Reinhardt didn’t make it out, so they slid the row up and we rolled off in sixth,” Smith added. “We were second by lap one then we had a yellow right away on lap two. We had a shot at Lucas on the restart, but he made some good decisions on lane choice and pulled away. I caught back up to him in traffic. It was a pretty traffic jam situation back there. Lucas got jammed up behind two guys racing and left a lane open and I got around him. We checked out with six to go.”

Smith pulled away to clinch his first victory with the Heffner Racing team in the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews No.72 machine.

“It was good to get that first one out of the way,” Smith said. “We got a win out of the box, so to speak, in the 360. We’ve been working hard and haven’t been in the right position to get it done. Hopefully we can get some momentum going here heading into May. I’d imagine Greg’s watching up there and smiling. I hope I’m doing a good enough job for him.”

RYAN SMITH SEASON STATS –

13 races– 1 win, 8 top five’s, 11 top 10s

MEDIA LINKS –

Heffner Racing
Website: www.heffnerracing.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/HeffnerRacing
Twitter:www.twitter.com/HeffnerRacing

Ryan Smith
Website:www.ryansmithracing.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/RyanSmithKunkletownKid
Twitter:www.twitter.com/RyanSmithRacing
Instagram:www.instagram.com/ryansmith410