Glencoe, AL — Clint Smith Builds Momentum For 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series With ‘Bama Bash’ Victory
 
By Kevin Kovac, 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series PR Director

Clint Smith is building some nice momentum for this year’s 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
 
Taking advantage of a month-long break in the schedule of the national tour he’ll chase in 2007, Smith scored a convincing $10,000 victory in Sunday’s eighth annual ‘Bama Bash 75’ at Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Ala.
 
Smith, 41, of Senoia, Ga., captured the Southeast’s early-season dirt Late Model special for the third consecutive year. He also finished second in the event’s 2004 edition, behind fellow 360 OTC WoO LMS star Rick Eckert of York, Pa.
 
“We’ve had some pretty good success in the ‘Bama Bash,’” bottom-lined Smith, the only 360 OTC WoO LMS regular who entered the weekend program at the three-eighths-mile oval. “It’s a good way to get the year started.”
 
Smith pulled off a clean sweep of the ‘Bama Bash’ action, posting fast time, winning the dash and leading all 75 laps of the A-Main from the pole position. He turned back periodic bids in the feature from 2004 WoO LMS champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., who settled for second place.
 
Tim Busha of Boaz, Ala., finished third, followed by Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., and Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn.
 
Smith’s triumph came one week after he unsuccessfully attempted to pass Bloomquist for position late in the 50-lap 360 OTC WoO LMS season opener at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., forcing him to be satisfied with a sixth-place finish to kick off the tour’s ’07 campaign.
 
“Scott was tough, but we just had the position on the racetrack on him,” said Smith, one of the Southeast’s most decorated dirt Late Model racers. “We followed him last week (at Volusia), so it’s nice to turn the tables.
 
“Scott’s already won two big ones this year, so maybe it’s good to spread the wins around a little bit,” he added with a smile. “He’s been ending up with a lot of trophies, so I’ll take one once in a while.”
 
Smith’s first win of 2007 came behind the wheel of the JP Drilling/Cliburn Tank Lines/J&J Steel GRT car he debuted in the 360 OTC WoO LMS opener on Feb. 18. The machine is working very much to his liking.
 
“We had some little new-car issues at Volusia (a brake problem and leaking oil tank), but we came from 13th to (finish) sixth and I felt like we had one of the fastest cars out there,” said Smith. “We took it home and fixed those little problems, and it was excellent (in the ‘Bama Bash’).”
 
Smith is considering parking his new car until the 360 OTC WoO LMS resumes with the three-night ‘World of Outlaws March Through Dixie,’ which visits Baton Rouge Raceway in Baker, La., on Fri., March 23; Columbus (Miss.) Speedway on Sat., March 24; and North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, Ala., on Sun., March 25.
 
But Smith won’t sit idle for the next three weeks. He has trips planned to Cherokee SuperSpeedway in Gaffney, S.C. (this weekend), Columbus (Rebel Challenge on March 9-10) and Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway (March 17), giving him an opportunity to roll up more ‘Big Mo’ – and pad his bank account – before hitting the road with the Outlaws.
 
“Winning $10,000 early in the season helps any race team that hasn’t had income for two months (during the winter),” said Smith. “Hopefully we can pick off a few more races before we get back with the Outlaws.”
 
Smith, who currently ranks sixth in the 360 OTC WoO LMS point standings after one event, will certainly be a favorite when the tour reaches Baton Rouge Raceway. One of his four series wins in 2006, after all, came in March at the three-eighths-mile, semi-banked oval.
 
For more information of the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.