NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Matt Smith backed up his words with a 6.929-second blast, but a Suzuki followed  him by .02 second in the first round of qualifying of Pro Stock Motorcycle. A war of words broke out online following NHRA's decision to add 15 pounds to the EBR, Buell and Harley-Davidson bodied motorcycles and Smith was right in the center of it. 

On the other side? Just about every Suzuki rider. Count current No. 2 rider Karen Stoffer among them. She hit a 6.949, just in front of Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec (6.954) and EBR rider Hector Arana Jr. The other party in the big debate was Steve Johnson, and the longtime racer is qualified fifth with a 6.984. 

That will make the rest of the session very exciting -- and not just because we're racing four bikes at the same time. Rookie Jianna Salinas is currently in the field with a 7.434, but that's in part because Joey Gladstone, Hector Arana Sr. and Ryan Oehler all failed to get down the track successfully. Expect them to improve in the second session. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE QUALIFYING ORDER

1    Matt Smith    6.929
2    Karen Stoffer    6.949
3    Eddie Krawiec    6.954
4    Hector Arana Jr.    6.964
5    Steve Johnson    6.984
6    Andrew Hines    6.986
7    Angie Smith    6.991
8    Jerry Savoie    7.017
9    Angelle Sampey    7.043
10    Fred Camarena    7.054
11    Cory Reed    7.083
12    Scotty Pollacheck    7.107
13    Katie Sullivan    7.156
14    James Underdahl    7.159
15    Jianna Salinas    7.434
16    Kelly Clontz    16.925
17    Joey Gladstone    29.709
18    Hector Arana    Broke
19    Ryan Oehler    Broke