PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Clint Smith felt right at home as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series began the Great Northern Tour at Port Royal Speedway June 17.
It wasn’t the mountain setting or the unseasonably cool temperatures that gave the Senoia, Ga., driver his comfort zone. It was the lightning- fast, narrow-grooved half-mile track that caught his attention.
“It was just like the tracks in south Georgia, so we put on our regular (tire) setup,” he explained after leading all 40 laps from the pole for his first World of Outlaws victory of the season. “I could run as fast as I wanted to ride. I just ran three-quarter throttle most of the time.”
After beating outside-front-row-starter Chub Frank on the third try to start the feature, Smith pulled away with ease as the race settled down under green. He was almost too fast as he caught the tail of the field by lap 15 and was unable to lap Eric Zembower while point-leader Steve Francis closed in. Just before Francis could attempt a move for the lead, Smith wriggled free.
A caution for the stalled car of Kirk Ryan finally opened the track for the leaders on lap 25, but Smith was among the backmarkers again with five to go when Danny Johnson shot up the track in turn two and contact was made.
“It almost got ugly for both of us,” the winner declared. But only cosmetic damage was done and Smith was nearly half a lap ahead of Francis at the checkered flag.
Chub Frank and Tim Fuller held third and fourth throughout, with Darrell Lanigan, Shannon Babb, and John Blankenship gaining fifth through seventh.
The finish:
Clint Smith, Steve Francis, Chub Frank, Tim Fuller, Darrell Lanigan, Shannon Babb, John Blankenship, Matt Parks, Donnie Moran, Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert, Jeff Smith, Josh Richards, Scott Haus, Jeremy Miller, Tim Fedder, Eric Zembower, Danny Johnson, Kirk Ryan, Alan Sagi, Jere Wierman, Vic Coffey, Jim Yoder, Waylon Wagner, Jason Covert.