Words and photos by Larry Crum

FRIDAY

It’s one of the oldest sayings in the books, but its wisdom always rings true. 

If at first you don’t succeed, well, let Cherissa Smallwood tell the rest. 

“You just can’t give up. Whenever you think you have reached your breaking point or things just won’t go your way you just have to keep working at it. We are living proof of that tonight,” Smallwood said. 

Smallwood, who has struggled through a long year with zero round wins and nothing to show for her team’s effort entering this weekend’s event, stunned the Pro Fuel field Friday night with her first career IHRA Nitro Jam victory on opening night at the Northern Nitro Jam at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. 

Smallwood, behind the wheel of the popular “Nitro and Lace” dragster, bested Pro Fuel veteran Robin Samsel in Friday’s final, joining Peter Gallen (Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car), Jay Turner (Nitro Harley), and Ron Maroney (Fuel Altered) in victory lane during opening night of Nitro Jam’s season finale. 

 “I think it is a brand new chapter for these guys. What we have tried to accomplish all year long was to be consistent and even though we had some hiccups down the road, we knew we were capable of winning races and I think that really showed tonight,” Smallwood said. “After beating Bill (Evans) in round one I just had this feeling in the bottom of my stomach that I have never had before and it just felt like an incredible weight was lifted when we crossed that finish line. It was an incredible feeling.”

Smallwood, who also threw a wrench in the Pro Fuel championship battle in round one with a win over Evans, put down two consistent laps Friday night culminating with a big victory over Robin Samsel who broke on the line and sputtered down the track in the final. Still, even with the win in hand, Smallwood never really lifted just to be sure. 

“The whole way I knew I had won because I never saw him,” Smallwood said. “Even before the run I told the crew that no matter what happens I am driving this thing to the finish line and that is exactly what I did. In fact, I drove it so hard I actually got a little squirrely at the top end and that really scared me back to reality. I just kept thinking ‘I’ve got this. It is mine.’ It is hard to describe how excited we all are.” 

Smallwood, who ventured from her home in Florida to Michigan a week earlier to do some testing, ran a 5.874, 244.65 in her victorious run. 

Smallwood had an even better lap in round one to advance to the final, but it mattered little as opponent Evans, who entered the night as the points leader, put the “Black Pearl” dragster up on two wheels and nearly brushed the wall before regaining control and limping down the track. That round loss, combined with a consolation round loss to Mike Manners and “The Shredder” team later in the evening, placed Manners narrowly ahead in the standings going into the final night of the season. Dave Hill picked up the other consolation round win over Kristen Dennis.