Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Marietta Motorsports’ Mike Smith was the star at Road Atlanta on Thursday, the opening day of the WERA Grand National Finals. Smith won two races, B Superstock (750cc) and C Superstock (600cc), on a pair of Pirelli-shod Suzuki GSX-Rs bought for him earlier this year by his parents.

Smith started from the seventh row of the 40-rider B Superstock grid but took the race lead on lap two of eight by passing early leader Brian Stokes. Over the first half of the race Smith slowly pulled away from Stokes, Roadracingworld.com-sponsored John Haner and Chris “Opie” Caylor, eventually gaining a 1.8-second advantage on lap four. Over the closing laps, however, Caylor moved into second and closed Smith’s lead despite former factory Superbike racer Smith dropping his lap times as low as 1:27.85. Caylor completely erased Smith’s lead on the final lap, but Smith was able to beat Caylor to the checkered flag by half-a-bikelength. Haner finished a close third while Stokes just held on to fourth ahead of second-wave-starter Tray Batey.

“I was trying a different tire,” said Smith when asked about lurid rear-wheel slides he was getting through fast turn 12. “I think we got the tire pressure wrong.”

Smith had to fight even harder for his second win. Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Matt Furtek took the holeshot from the second row and led the first five laps while Stokes and Smith worked their way up from the back of the grid to the front. For the second half of the eight-lap race, the three riders ran a pace of mid-to-high 1:29s, exchanging positions in nearly every corner and setting up a dramatic last-lap finish.

Smith led the trio of Suzuki GSX-R600 riders down the back straight before young Furtek dove underneath Smith on the brakes for turn 10. “He got in there on the inside, but he was in too hot and ran a little wide,” said Smith. “I just tucked back up underneath him.”

Furtek and Smith tripping over each other in turn 10 allowed Stokes a clean run through the turn 10 chicane and a strong drive up the hill and under the Suzuki bridge. The three riders came over the crest of turn 11 three-wide, elbow-to-elbow-to-elbow coming down the hill to turn 12, the final corner. Stokes was on the outside, got elbowed out wide going into the high-speed final corner and was lucky to stay on the track and out of the air barriers. Smith held the inside line and was able to beat Furtek to the line by a wheel.

Other Expert winners Thursday at Road Atlanta included Brian Kcraget in Sportsman 125cc GP; Andrew Weiss in Clubman; Yamaha FZR460 rider Jason Temme in D Superbike; Scott Carpenter in C.O.R.C. (a.k.a Crusty Old Racers Class); and MB Motorsports/Richmond Suzuki’s Bradley Champion in Lightweight Twins and Formula 2.

Novice class winners included Ducati 750-mounted Lance Pentecost in Clubman; Martin Musil in D Superbike; Kevin Cesar in C.O.R.C.; Phillip Chapin in Lightweight Twins; and Phillip Fortune in Formula 2.

WERA Vintage race winners included 18-year-old Josh Smith-Moore in Formula RD; former Isle of Man TT winner Dave Roper in 500cc GP and 350cc GP; Doug Bowie in 250cc GP; Chris Spargo in Formula 2-Stroke; Mark Morrow in Formula 500; William “Buff” Harsh in Vintage 1; Tom Joyce in Vintage 2 and Vintage 3; Frank Shockley in Vintage 4; Harold Page, Jr. in Vintage 5; William Mayfield in Vintage 6; Lance Yeager in Vintage 7 Middleweight; and Dale Burroughs in Vintage 7 Heavyweight.

Friday’s action at the WERA GNF will include the final round of the WERA National Endurance Series and five more eight-lap sprint races. Saturday and Sunday’s program will feature Suzuki Cup qualifying heat races and finals plus the final round of the WERA National Challenge Series.