Worked for a Week One Night__ Tyler Smith and crew put in O.T at MHM

Sprint Car Insider – Driver Exclusive. FRESNO, Calif. (September 25, 2018)->Tyler Smith and the Salmon Motorsports crew went through a week’s worth of work over the weekend ruining double duty at The Mark Hagopian Memorial.
Tyler Smith was a busy man over the weekend en route to becoming a two-time Non-Wing winner and putting himself in contention to pull off the sweep. After Friday night it appeared the task may have been out of reach. But if you only showed up for Saturday you would have never guessed that.
Running double duty is no easy task when things are going perfectly. Being competitive in both classes takes another entire element of focus and preparation. Making a complete 180-degree turn in a performance of both while having to change everything but the driver could seem darn right unfathomable.
However, that’s exactly what they did after putting in as many hours as some individuals work in a week, over a 24-hour period.
Friday did not go so well according to the standard Smith has for himself. A completely uncharacteristic 14th place qualifying effort in non-wing Friday left Smith under the radar most of the night. The story was the same in Super 600. Qualifying saw the 18 posts 21st quick and in the eventual main he drove crossed the line 12th.
Now the non-wing main Smith came to life. He finally made a showing to the Keller Auto Raceway Crowd that there was no substitute in the car, it was indeed Smith. He charged up to contend for a top 5 but got caught up with Brandon Carey and Mitchel Moles coming to the checkered in which he wound up coming to a stop and scored as 12th on the night.
“I just went in for it way too deep and canned us both,” said Smith. “There wasn’t enough there, it was on me. We’ll be better tomorrow.”
The salmon crew left the track early to go home and make all of the necessary repairs to come back for night two.
Night number two was a completely different story. He posted 2nd quick in non-wing after and 4th in wing followed up by winning both heats. Just as it seemed the team had turned the corner it was apparent to them the work wasn’t done.
In between the heats and main, the crew pulled off a complete engine swap.
With the new power plant under the hood, with went out and won the non-wing Feature after a fierce battle with Mitchel Moles. That win marked his second mark Hagopian Memorial Saturday night win in as many years. But he was looking for a good run in the wing class.
Last year the Super 600 main was just average. This year Smith nearly became the class of the field. He charged early and made quick work of the competition. Smith got the 18 all the way into the top 5 with the leader in his sights before making a critical error and giving many of those spots back.

“I looked up at the scoreboard and said shoot maybe that was a little early,” said Smith. “I probably should have waited to get that aggressive but it felt much later.”
There was a point during the 50-lap Finale Smith appeared on his way to completing the sweep. But it was not to be. Credited with 15th on the night it was over when Smith had to escape the flames underneath the car in a hurry under a red flag.
That would signal the end of the 2018 Mark Hagopian Memorial for Smith as he still earned his 22nd win of the season even after appearing to be out of contention altogether.

Quick Results: Friday, September 21, 2018
2nd Annual Mark Hagopian Memorial
Keller Auto Raceway Plaza Park – Night One
Tyler Tj Smith (#14 Non Wing 600) (#18 Super 600)
- Qualifying: (Non-Wing: 14th) (Super 600: 21st)
- Heat Race: (Non-Wing: 6th) (Super 600: 3rd)
- Main Event: (Non-Wing: 12th) (Super 600: 12th)
Quick Results: Saturday, September 22, 2018
2nd Annual Mark Hagopian Memorial
Keller Auto Raceway Plaza Park – Night two
- Qualifying: (Non-Wing: 2nd) (Super 600: 4th)
- Heat Race: (Non-Wing: 1st) (Super 600: 1st)
- Main Event: (Non-Wing: 1st) (Super 600: 15th)
Season Stats:
- Shows: 43
- Wins: 21
- Top 5s: 34
- Top 10s: 36
Make sure to follow Sprint Car Insider on Facebook, @SCI_uodates on twitter or visit our website – sprintcarInsider.co for or all of the updates on Joey Ancona as he continues his assault on the 2018 campaign.
Follow us:
- Sprintcsrinsider.co – https://sprintcarinsider.co/
- Facebook: Sprint Car Insider – https://www.facebook.com/sprintcarinsider/
- Twitter: @SCI_updates – https://twitter.com/SCI_updates
- Instagram: – @sprintcarinsider
Or Follow Tyler Smith and his racing personally at
- https://
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/salmonmotorsports
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tyler.smith.
- Instagram: @t.smith1421
Catch Tyler Smith in action this next at –
- Budweiser Grand Prix/ Points Finale
- Lemoore Raceway – Lemoore, Ca
- Saturday, September 29, 2018
To follow the race be sure to follow: (track/series social)
- Facebook: @tzonepromotions –
- Instagram: @tzone_lre
- Twitter: @LemooreRaceway
On deck: (upcoming races)
- Budweiser Grand Prix
September 29, 2018
Lemoore Raceway
- King of California Rd. 15
October 5, 2018
Dixon Speedway
- King of California Rd, 16
October 6, 2018
Delta Speedway
Interested in obtaining Sprint Car Insiders services or becoming a marketing partner? We have options available for all levels of support. We strive to leverage the most effective means of adding value to our partners with unique but proven, practices.
Feel Free to give a ring or shoot an email anytime –
Contact: jerrycoxmedia@gmail.com Or (559) 284-2438 for more details.
Make sure to follow Sprint Car Insider on Facebook, @SCI_updates on twitter or visit our website – sprintcarInsider.co for or all of the updates on our drivers as they continue their assault on the 2018 campaign
On the Horizon for (DRIVER NAME):
2018 California Cup (Cal Cup)
October 12-13, 2018
Lemoore Raceway
Lemoore, CA
Turkey Bowl XVIII
October 26-27, 2018
Delta Speedway
Stockton, CA
35th Annual Tulsa Shootout
January 1-5, 2019
Tulsa Expo Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sprint Car Insider is the exclusive print division of DIRT CO Media House. Covering everything from Jr Sprints to the world of Outlaws SCI is your source for behind the scenes information, up to the minute coverage and racing entertainment.
Once again Follow us at:
- Sprintcsrinsider.co – https://sprintcarinsider.co/
Facebook: Sprint Car Insider – https://www.facebook.com/sprintcarinsider/
Twitter: @SCI_updates – https://twitter.com/SCI_updates
Instagram: – @sprintcarinsider
Categories
Articles, DRIVER EXCLUSIVE, Drivers, Salmon Motorsports, Uncategorized
JJ Cox View All
JJ Cox -
Lead Contributor of Sprint Car Insider.
Sole Proprietor of Prodigy Race Promotions.
Current Freelance Announcer with educated broadcast experience.
Media Relations Advisor.
P.R Practitioner.
Fresno State Bulldog - Broadcasting and Public Relations.
Grew up going to 50+ Sprint Car races a year and Raced Motocross for 10 years.
Die Hard Dirt Race Fan
Just a rolling stone.