From CL Motorsports
HOLMESVILLE, Ohio. – November 13, 2012 – Sprint car driver Stevie Smith leaned up against the side of the #19 CL Motorsports hauler after the final race of the 2012 season. The Pennsylvania native was disappointed yet smiling.
“We had a car capable of winning and I still believe that to this day,” said Smith, who was referring to the final night of the PEAK Motor Oil World Finals presented by NAPA Auto Parts at the Dirt Track at Charlotte. “We followed Dollansky into turn three and his tire let go. We got into him and the ensuing chaos ended out night. It was just one of those racing deals. The important thing is that we had a car fast enough to win.”
It was a reoccuring theme for the Pennsylvania native and his first year organization. The team didn’t compete in its first event until the Williams Grove Speedway season opener on Friday, March 23 but came out with their guns blazing.
“We really only had a shop and a workbench in January,” said Smith, who was reunited with his legendary Black Bandit moniker in 2012. “From the get go, this CL Motorsports team bonded and came together to pull off something amazing. We built a full fledged race team from the ground up in a very short amount of time and we were fast right out of the box. We finished fourth in our very first race against some of the toughest competition in sprint car racing anywhere. I was pretty proud and optimistic after that night.”
As spring turned into summer, the #19 CL Motorsports/DDNi/CJB Motorsports/Spectro Oils machine became stronger and stronger.
“The months of April and May were a time where we really learned a lot about our program and developed our chemistry,” explained Smith. “By the time June rolled around, we were ready to go after it.”
Smith kicked off the month with back-to-back quick time awards at Williams Grove Speedway and Lincoln Speedway. Those two awards would go along with three others to give the team five for the season.
“I really believe that our season turned around once June began,” said Smith. “We were going into our busiest time of the year and the team just clicked. Our Fisher Racing Engines helped up pick up those quick times and it set us on the right course.”
Ride along with the Bandit in this 2012 season recap
Ride along with the Bandit in this 2012 season recap
June would prove to be a successful month for Smith as he and the team picked up their first victory as an organization at Waynesfield Raceway Park on June 23 during the Ohio Sprint Speedweek. With momentum on their side, CL Motorsports was able to fend off the competition and capture the week long series title.
“Our win at Waynesfield was special because it was our first win as an organization but also my 200th in a winged sprint car,” said Smith. “To go on and cap off the week with winning the Ohio Sprint Speedweek title was just amazing. It shows the dedication of this team to never quit. We were down a few times but always managed to pull ourselves out. That is what made it very gratifying.”
As June turned into July, the #19 team stayed on their hot streak. Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek was the next major stretch on the schedule and it included a trip to a very familiar spot for Smith.
“We won the Mitch Smith Memorial race at Williams Grove,” said Smith, who ended up with two victories on the season. “The heat race was key that night and I believe we had an average heat race finish of third for the year. I’ve been to victory lane many times at the Grove over the years but that one was special. It was great to win with our car owners, Chad and Jenn Clemens there.”
Following the month of July, all eyes at CL Motorsports turned to the legendary Knoxville Raceway and the running of the 52nd Goodyear Knoxville Nationals. With ample time to prepare and a few weekly shows under their belts, the team attacked sprint car racing’s biggest event with vigor.
“A lot of hard work went into the Nationals for us and I think that’s why you saw us pick up the pole,” said Smith. “We had some luck but we put ourselves in good position on our qualifying night to there. It was the second time in my career that I was able to start on the pole of the Nationals. It’s a feeling like no other. Unfortunately we finished seventh but it is still an accomplishment in of itself to start on the pole there.”
As the season wound down, Smith and his team stayed strong as ever. Contending for race wins became the norm for the team as they set out to work on strengthening their program.
“Our testing phase began after the Nationals,” explained Smith. “We were trying some new things here and there to get a better feel for how our car was going to react. Some worked and some didn’t. We came close to a few wins at places like Port Royal Speedway, Nodak Speedway and more. We had a really strong National Open weekend at Williams Grove to end September. In the end, our racing luck just wasn’t as good as others.”
The last race of the season proved to be a continuation of that luck as Smith and his team as they sat on the pole for the final night of the PEAK Motor Oil World Finals presented by NAPA Auto Parts.
“Charlotte was characteristic of our entire season,” said Smith. “If we had a fast car, some obstacle got in the way of us and a win. Our car started out good, fell off a bit but was getting better when we wrecked. Who knows what might have been.”
With 2012 in the books, the focus now shifts to 2013. A new season and a fresh slate has Smith anxious to continue the journey that he began in March.
“It’s been a long season, no doubt about it,” said Smith. “We’ve had some ups and downs but we’ve stuck together. Our partners have stuck with us and I couldn’t be more thankful for them and everything they do. The fans have also been with us every step of the way and I hope they’ve enjoyed what we’ve been able to do this season. Would we have liked to have picked up more wins? Absolutely. Could we have ran better all season long? Yes. However, at the end of the day, you have to think about how we started the year. We missed all the races in Florida and spent most of the spring catching up. We were strong in the summer and when it counted. We competed against the best of the best as we raced with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions quite a bit. We even finished seventh in the final points standings for the All Stars despite missing a fair amount of their races. I’m extremely proud of this race team and everyone who has been a part of it. From the owners to the crew to the volunteers to the partners and fans, everyone had a stake in the success of this program. I’d say we accomplished a lot but there is so much more out there. That’s what I was thinking about the night I was leaning up against the hauler. We’ve come so far this season but I know it’s only a stepping stone to what is ahead of us. I can’t wait for 2013 and to show the racing world just how good of a team we are capable of being.”
For more information on CL Motorsports and the Black Bandit, please visit www.TheBlackBandit.com
FINAL SEASON STATISTICS:
Wins Top-5’s Top-10’s Poles Quicktimes Laps Led
2 24 42 4 5 126
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