September
4, 2008
Though
competing in his first-ever 410 dirt sprint car race this Friday night at Port
Royal Speedway, rookie sprint car driver Ryan Smith already has an impressive
record of racing wins under his belt: multiple championship titles on asphalt
and dirt and over 100 feature wins. And when the new kid on the block takes to
the track in his #28 car, he will be surrounded by sprint car veterans.
Cheering on
Ryan from the pits will be:
· Car owner Mike Heffner, a lifelong
sprint car racing fan; and
President of
Lelands.com, Seaford, NY, a major sponsor;
· Head mechanic Jim Pasquariello,
twenty-year racing veteran, former sprint car owner, and owner of sponsor
Pasquariello's Auto Shop,
Northampton,
PA;
· Head mechanic Greg Smith, racing mechanic
for over ten years (Ryan's for the last four), and 2006 Crew Chief of the Year
for USAC Ford
Focus
Midgets;
· Sponsor VRP Shocks, supporter of Ryan
for over six years;
· Smith's parents, Randy and Denise
Smith, accomplished racers,
promoters of
Hamlin Speedway, Hamlin, PA and owners of S&S Speedways, indoor go-karts,
Poconos.
"I have been attending sprint car
races since I was a kid and have always
dreamed of owning and driving a car," says Heffner, president
of
Lelands.com, an online sports and pop culture memorabilia auction
house, and
major sponsor of the 2008 Maxim Chasis car.
For years,
Heffner had been trying to convince Pasquariello, who had
taken an
eight-year sabbatical from racing, to build another racecar.
"I kept
telling him 'no', that it was too much work; but he finally talked me into it.
The competition…the love of racing…I can't get it out of my bloodstream,"
admits Pasquariello, who met his wife Pam at a racetrack 18 years ago.
Bringing Ryan
and Greg (no relation, despite sharing the same last name) onboard was an easy
decision for Heffner and Pasquariello.
"I've
been following Ryan's progress for a few years," says Pasquariello. "He's been ready to
move up to 410 dirt sprint cars, just hasn't had a chance."
Greg has
watched Ryan mature over the last four years, attributing to him wisdom that
belies his tender 20 years of age.
"Ryan is
very smart. He can read the racecar, knows what makes it work. He's
mild-mannered, never gets excited, and doesn't wreck equipment," laughs
Greg. "And he wins—a lot. He can drive the wheels off anything he sits
in."
As for
Heffner, the anticipation of realizing a lifelong dream is almost too much to
bear.
"I have
never been so excited about anything," declares Heffner. "Our team
hasn't been together for very long, but already we have 'clicked'. Ryan is a
talented driver with a good head on his shoulders and very smooth on the
racetrack. Greg and Jim are excellent mechanics with impressive backgrounds
working on championship and winning racecars. And me, as an owner, it's more
about managing the team and bringing everyone and the right equipment together.
We're all ready to win."
About Ryan Smith
Coming from a racing family, twenty-year old Ryan Smith is a
natural driver. Embarking on his racing career at the age of 13, Ryan received
multiple "Rookie of the Year" honors, and a track championship in his
first two seasons. For the next several years, Ryan competed in the slingshot
division, 270cc micro sprints, the USAC Ford Focus midget series, where he
finished fourth in the Ford Focus Nationals and the Mopar PRI Classic in his
rookie year, won the "Gambler's Classic" and was named 2006 Tangerine
Tournament Champion. Ryan also became the first USAC driver in history to win 2
Ford Focus regional titles in the same season.
In 2007, Ryan moved into ARDC Dirt Midgets division, where he
was again named "Rookie of the Year". That same year, at the PRA Big
Car Series, Ryan earned his wings finishing in the top 10, and racing a 270cc
micro, won a Micro National Championship title. This year, Ryan is competing in
4 divisions: USAC Silver Crown, ARDC Dirt Midget,
600cc micro, & 270cc micro and will make his 410 sprint car
debut in September.
For more information about Ryan Smith, images, and a list of
past wins, please visit www.RyanSmithRacing.com