“The numbers just aren’t showing the team’s progress,” said Jonathan Smith on Sunday, when asked to comment on the StrutMasters.com 150 at South Boston Speedway in Virginia. “We had a lot of work to do on the car, but when we finally got it together, the car drove well.”

Smith’s car was loose during qualifying, and he started the race from the 24th position. Once the race began, the crew saw the car improve, but almost immediately an over- eager driver pushed the #21 Dodge up into the wall, and the left front tire went down. He pulled into the pits, and the crew kept the car on the lead lap as they quickly pulled out the Dodge’s crumbled fender and changed the tire. “They were the heroes of the day,” said Smith.

Smith re-entered the race in 32nd position, and steadily worked his way through the field to 7th position. The car was running well, and Smith had about 20 laps to make it to the front of the pack, when a multi-car crash caused the field to slow down and come to a stop in front of him. Smith had time to maneuver his car and avoid the conflict. But a car from behind apparently did not, and it plowed into his stopped car, pushing him into the car in front, and into the wall.

After an interminably long red flag, Smith pitted, and some more crumbled fender was pulled out. Smith limped back into the race on the lead lap, and drove a severely damaged race car 15 laps to the checkered flag, finishing in 18th position, one lap down.

Jonathan Smith and the 21 team head to Upstate New York this weekend, to Watkins Glen International, to compete in the first road course event of the season, the Camping World Series – East “125” At The Glen.

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