Shawn Smith to race in the NSCS

by Andrew Kunas, NSCS Publicist

NAMPA, Idaho - Imagine being a driver who competes in a series that doesn’t even race in your own home state.

That is exactly what Shawn Smith has been doing for a while now. Several times a year, Smith tows from his hometown of Nampa in southern Idaho across the Columbia Basin to race either in western Oregon or western Washington. He’ll be doing it again in 2007 with the new Northwest Sprint Challenge Series.

And he has to, if he wants to race dirt. While pavement races happen several times each season, dirt sprint car racing is virtually non-existent in Idaho.

Smith, 33, has become very popular to sprint car fans in the Northwest because of his willingness to travel a very long ways to race and entertain. Smith, however, is no slouch behind the wheel. Smith was not able to score a victory with the former Northern Sprint Tour, but several times over the last few years he came close, once finishing second to California legend Brent Kaeding at Willamette Speedway in Oregon in July 2004.

Smith’s consistency and strong runs earned him a fourth place finish in the final NST standings last year. He was also awarded the Hard Charger of the Year award for his efforts on the track.

Smith did score a win at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. in weekly competition last year, and Elma will be the site of the two-night season opener for the NSCS this Friday and Saturday, April 27th and 28th. If there were ever a time to score one’s first touring victory, this weekend could be it for Smith.

With 14 years of racing experience backing him up, Smith will again be driving the familiar Bill Brownlee-owned No. 32s Rocket with an ASCS-legal Gaerte engine under the hood.

Back with Smith as a sponsor in 2007 is Heartland Development LLC, joined by Thueson Construction, Primo Powder Coating, and Peterson Stampede.

This Friday, when the NSCS opens its season, pit gates at Grays Harbor Raceway will open early at 1:00 p.m. for last minute NSCS registrations and technical inspections before the first race of the season.  This weekend’s races and all other NSCS events at Grays Harbor Raceway are open only to ASCS-legal sprint cars.

More information on the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series and its drivers can be found online at www.racenscs.com.

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NSCS: The Northwest Sprint Challenge Series
www.racenscs.com