Despite high hopes for a strong run at Greenville Pickens speedway, Jonathan Smith had to settle for a 21st place finish.

The rain that was falling Saturday morning didn’t hinder the enthusiasm from the TW Racing crew. The crew worked tirelessly to put the finishing touches on the car and get it ready for practice. Unfortunately, the two hour practice was cut down to one hour due to weather. Anxious to get behind the wheel, Jonathan was the first car on the track for practice.

After a couple of pace laps, the car began to spew water from the overflow. The crew called Jonathan in and checked everything, made some adjustments and sent him back out. Again in a couple of laps, the car was overheating. The crew worked on the car and sent him out again. This time the familiar blue smoke told the story. A blown engine with only 20 laps of practice and very few at speed. It was a guess for a race set-up.

The crew removed and replaced the engine in one hour and thirty minutes. Fortunately, a provisional was available from last year’s performance. Jonathan took the green flag from the 30th position. “The car was so tight I couldn’t turn” Smith said. At the first caution, he came in for an adjustment and ended up going down a lap. When the green flag flew, the car was better, but still not competitive. The leaders came through and another lap was lost. Now down two laps, the decision was made to come in one more time and make another adjustment. The car was starting to drive better and the team decided to just “ride the rest of the race out”. “During the last 40 laps, the car started to come in,” Smith said. When the checker flag flew, Smith was in 21st.

“I can’t thank my entire crew enough for the effort they put forth this weekend. Changing an engine as fast as they did and keeping us going for 150 laps was amazing.”

The Troy Williams Racing team is heading to Iowa Speedway for the next race, the US Cellular 200, on May 18.

For sponsor or media information, email gsmith61@sbcglobal.net or call 203-232-8318