Just days after winning the NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown last month, 2007 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith lost his backing from the formidable An-Anabi Racing empire, leaving his season – in which he currently sits third in points – in jeopardy. Smith and wife Angie were both in Chicago without primary sponsorship, intent to accrue as many points as possible in hopes that Matt could rejoin the tour in Indianapolis and maintain a spot in the Countdown to the Championship for another title.
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But after tirelessly working to find new backing to continue racing, the Smith’s have secured a few sponsors that will allow them to hit the Western Swing, with hopes of carrying forward beyond Sonoma. Best Tech Brands and FastSharkSupply.com will serve as the primary sponsors on Matt’s Buell, as well as associate sponsorship on Angie’s Buell. Red Line Oil, Wilson Concrete, and Senecal Construction have also stepped up to help the Smith’s head west to Denver.
Houston, Texas-based Best Tech Brands, which is associated with Pro Stock racer Bob Yonke, is in the process of launching a new product called Synergyn – an additive for gasoline and diesel engines – and will utilized the Smith’s motorcycles to promote the brand and product.
“We want to promote these new products through drag racing,” said Bob Yonke. “And we thought what better way than to team up with Matt Smith and Angie Smith, who are proven winners; and not only promote Synergyn, but help Matt win a Championship during the process.”
[2]Yonke, who represents Best Tech Brands, has also partnered with FastSharkSupply.com and Gary Lee Gregory, Owner.President of FastSharkSupply.com, on the venture.
“Fast Shark Supply is very excited about our partnership with Matt Smith Racing and Yonke Motorsports,” said Gary Lee Gregory. Gregory is the Team Owner/Driver of KALMAK RACING, who will debut in the Pro Stock car class at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis later this year. “We are looking to do more races, but will take it two at a time for now. FastSharkSupply.com and KALMAK RACING look forward to being apart of Matt winning another NHRA Championship. This is truly a great opportunity for all of us and the timing was perfect. Matt is a great guy and we look forward to watching him win.”
With final round appearances in two of the last three races, Matt has positioned himself just three rounds shy of the points lead as the season nears the Countdown to the Championship. Likewise, Angie is just three rounds outside the top 10 cutoff, and participation in the Western Swing could move her into contention for the title later this year.
“I can’t thank everyone enough,” said Matt Smith, who won the 2007 and 2008 races at Denver’s Bandimere Speedway. “We are so excited to be promoting Synergyn for Best Tech Brands and FastSharkSupply.com, with Red Line Oil, Wilson Concrete and Senecal Construction stepping up as well; we are pumped and ready for the West coast. We have worked our butts off to get here and we want to make our sponsors proud for helping us out, so we will do all we can to win for them.”
“I am pumped that we get to go out West,” said Angie Smith. “We have had a great bike the last few races, but have just come up against the wrong opponent. We will work hard on qualifying better this weekend and trying to go some rounds. There is only a few races left before the Countdown to the Championship cut-off, so every pass counts.”