Matt Smith rode the Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki to the quarterfinals of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class today at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

Following an engine change overnight, No. 4 qualifier Smith defeated No. 13 Mike Berry in the opening round of eliminations with the quickest pass of the round, a 7.010-second lap at 183.82 mph.

He then faced his nemesis Andrew Hines in the second round in a dramatic contest. While Hines posted a .001 reaction time (.000 is perfect) Smith uncharacteristically fouled out with a -.044. Hines claimed the win with a 7.158/180.65 while Smith's 7.167/176.97 was disqualified.

Smith slipped to third place in the point standings, and is now two markers behind Andrew Hines and 53 behind leader Eddie Krawiec.

“First round we ran really well," said Smith. "We put a fresh motor in the bike and had low ET of the round. I rode well and had a good light in the first round (.050). I came up for the second round and I knew that I had Andrew Hines and I didn’t think I pushed it that much. I didn’t try to push it. I don’t know why I went red. I never do that. I just don’t and I hate that I did that.

"We also don’t know why the engine slowed up that much. If I would’ve had a perfect light, we still wouldn’t have won that round. So, it kind of makes it feel better than if we would’ve gone out there and run a 6.99 and had low ET of the round and put on the red light. We’ll regroup and go to Englishtown.”

The Steve Johnson Racing team may not have a race win to celebrate this weekend, but Steve Johnson and the WyoTech Snap-on Suzuki team certainly made their mark on Route 66. The team won two rounds and fought their way into the semi-finals and made a pass that proved to be the top speed of the weekend with 194.07mph. That 194.07mph also rocketed Johnson to a new career best speed at an official event; going 13 hundredths of a second faster than his previous record.

“This weekend had some great high points,” said Johnson. “We had a really fast motorcycle in qualifying. Our number six qualifying position was a combination of hard work and testing in St. Louis a few weeks back and figured out some jetting issues.”

On race day, Tim Kulungian with WyoTech graduates Sam Perry and Mike Walding had their hands full with rain changing all the weather conditions.  All the teams were scrambling to make the proper adjustments because the engine combination that had worked on Friday and Saturday to make the teams fast was not going to be fast on Sunday.