Young racer Ryan Smith is looking at a busy week – he’s racing five different events in five days, beginning with a weeknight show at Kutztown, Pa., racing three straight ARDC Midget shows and ending Saturday night at Hamlin Speedway.
“That’s the best thing to do, ” said Smith when asked about the heavy schedule in his first week of ‘summer vacation. ’ “I can’t wait – it’s going to be a blast, ” he added about a schedule that would have many major teams panting in the summer heat.
Smith will run his family-owned slingshot, the “S&S Speedway” car at Kutztown and then switch seats, climbing into the Shawn Burke-owned No. 54 ARDC car for a race at Bechtelville, Pennsylvania’s Grandview Speedway Wednesday night, followed by a pair of races at Minersville’s Big Diamond Raceway Thursday and Friday. Saturday night, he travels to Hamlin to round out the five-night swing, where he will compete in the 270cc micro sprint and slingshot divisions.
“A race car is a race car, ” he says, describing the mental switches needed in changing cars. “It’s different, but it only takes a lap or two for me to adjust, ” he replied.
The mechanical engineering student has already scored five wins in 2007, out of about twenty starts. Most recently, he has a second at Kutztown. Family life is important to the entire Smith family. Sister Shannon races the slingshots too, but has a soccer banquet that is taking the family’s attention a day before he begins the five-race marathon.
Smith will jump into the family-owned No. 55 PRA ‘Big Car’ on June 13 at Berlin Speedway in Michigan, to start a four-day marathon, making nine races in twelve days before finally taking a break for Father’s Day.
Smith is being helped in his career by training from Future Stars in Racing Academy. The Academy helps prepare young drivers for success outside the car in public speaking; sponsor presentations; working with the media and behavior on and off the track. Future Stars in Racing is the exclusive driver development partner with the ASA Late Model Series. Marketing partners include Safety-Kleen, Awesome Racewear, Jeff Gordon Racing School and Sunbelt Web Solutions. The Academy features a staff with decades of experience in all aspects of motorsports.
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