New Car Debuts 8th For Shanky

Shanky Smith was happy with the performance of his new car Saturday night. He qualified with a 16.191 putting him in 8th starting position. With only 20 laps or so into the race the car started to feel like something may be wrong. He came into the pits but did not have enough time to figure it out. He made it back out on the track just in time before going a lap down.

Later in the race Shanky’s pit crew was able to locate the problem, a melting spark plug wire. With a little silicone and a little less than 20 laps, Shanky was able to come from around 14th position to finish where he qualified, in 8th. Shanky was also happy to bring his new car home in one piece.

Hard Luck for Shanky at the Mojave 100

The Century 21/Tartan Pines/Phoenix Landscaping Monte Carlo made just two trips around South Alabama Speedway this past Saturday night, as Shanky was taken out in a very early crash. Unfortunately for the team, the damage was severe enough that Shanky would have to park the ride for the remainder of the race on pit road.

The next outing for the Shanky Racing team at South Alabama Speedway will be the Copperhead 100 September 15th.

Best Career Finish for Shanky Racing Crew at SAS!

With 34 cars on hand for the 100 lap Massassauga 100 this past Saturday night at South Alabama Speedway, everyone knew qualifying was going to be more important than ever. Sam "Shanky" Smith put his #17 Century 21/Tartan Pines/Phoenix Landscaping Monte Carlo in the 11th starting position, in the race that started 32 cars.

In a race with a high attrition rate, Shanky managed to keep his machine clean and out of trouble. He wheeled his car to the top five late in the race. His seemingly first career top five was cut short on the final lap, as the sixth place machine powered his way under Smith, using the Black and Green #17 as a bumper to slide into fifth. Sam would hold on to control of his car and come home with a solid sixth place finish.

Strong Run, Rough Finish for Shanky at the Pigmy 100

The Shanky Racing team came out to South Alabama Speedway last Saturday night with high hopes. They exceeded even their own expectations by qualifying the #17 Century 21/Tartan Pines/Phoenix Landscaping Monte Carlo in the 5th position for the 21 car starting field. A random invert placed Shanky in the 3rd starting spot for the 100 lap feature.

Shanky wheeled the machine very well all night long, sticking in the top five for much of the race. It seemed evident that Shanky was poised for his best career finish. That was until late in the race, when track officials got word of fluid coming from the back of the machine.

Under the next caution, track officials pulled Shanky down and stopped him on the front stretch to examine the situation. It was determined that rear end grease was leaking from the #17 Monte Carlo. Shanky decided to come down pit road and see about fixing the leak. He was lucky and managed to get back out before the green and stay on the lead lap.

A few short laps later, he pealed down to the pits and parked the car for the remainder of the race. It was an unfortunate end for what had been a career best run for the Spring Hill, AL driver. His official finish position would be 13th.

The crew will return to South Alabama Speedway for race two of five in the Pro Late Model Viper Series; the Massasauga 100 is scheduled for July 7, 2007.

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