Smith secures second straight sprint car championship at ERP

EPHRATA — The racing season came to a close on a night that featured everything a race fan would hope for from wrecks to rivalries and everything in-between.

The grand stands were full to witness the climactic finales and see who would prevail atop the division standings.

Going in to Saturday's Season Championship event at Ephrata Raceway Park Joe Smith stood atop the Jerry's Auto Supply 360 Sprint division, but was

clinging to a four point lead over his brother Adam Smith. Both drivers had successful outings at the Rebel Jackson Memorial event two weeks ago leaving Joe with 597 points and Adam had 593 points, but it was Rafael Kurek's main event win that gave him an outside shot at the points title with 563 points entering the summer's finale on Saturday night.

"My end goal this season is to win the sprint car points championship and of course beat my brother Joe in the process." Adam Smith said, with a grin on his face before the final race of the year.

The Smith brothers are serious drivers, without question they are professionals behind the wheel. When Joe and Adam put on their flame retardant suits it's as if a switch goes off and the fun begins. Not only do they seem to be happiest on race night, but they have a keen way of making everyone in the pits and on the track truly enjoy themselves.

"My goal this season has been to learn as much as I can from the veterans out here, like the Smith brothers, to help me going forward and have as much fun with racing as those guys do." said 16-year-old, first year sprint driver Austin Weber.

While in the pits prior to the biggest race of the season Joe insisted that his brother be called by his nickname, Adam "Hollywood" Smith during the race. Adam laughed upon hearing his new nickname and joined in, "As long as they announce Joe as "Maverick" Smith then I love the idea."

Once the sun went down and the lights came on over ERP, the jokes and laughter subsided and the Smith boys were ready to do what they do best: drive. It was Dave Hill in the 05 car who jumped out to an early lead in the main event. Hill had won a heat race and a trophy dash earlier in the night, and undoubtedly had his best night of the summer.

The great start for Hill wouldn't last as his quick start proved to be only a gasp and the 05 car didn't have the endurance to hang with the divisions brass for 30 laps. Just over a third of the way through the season championship race Joe took the lead and wouldn't look back from there. Brother Adam "Hollywood," would make a push and vigorously contest for top spot with "Maverick."

It was clear to all in attendance that both drivers knew what was at stake. A season of hard work was going to pay off for one of these two brothers in the form of a season championship trophy and bragging rights until next summer.

Adam in the red number two car would never get closer than second position and it was his brother Joe Smith who returned to winner's circle once again to secure the himself the season championship. Joe finished atop the Jerry's Auto Supply 360 Sprints final standings with 647 points, followed by Adam with 640 and Rafael Kurek with 548. The last race of the year at ERP marked the second consecutive year that Adam played runner up to brother Joe in the season's final standings

The Pepsi Racing Street Stock division featured a shoot out for the championship trophy as well between leader Brad Morrison in the number

4 car and Bart Hector Jr. in the number 82 car.

In the heat race preceding the main event Jim Bise was leading before a collision with Eric Hector, caused both drivers to hit the wall. The accident allowed points leader Brad Morrison to take the lead following the caution and win the heat. Bise would not return for the main event.

The aggressive driving continued during street stock season championship race with Hector Jr. racing with an intensity that lifted him to second in the standings late in the season. After a few early lead changes Bart secured the lead by passing brother Eric Hector just before the half way point of the seasons biggest race.

With just 3 laps to go, Bart had a comfortable lead with Eric Hector also in the lead pack for protection, when the unthinkable happened. Both Hector brothers lost control of their vehicles. Eric made contact with another car and spun out in turn two and Bart Jr. subsequently spun out in turn three. After the caution both drivers moved the back of the pack to restart the race with only two laps to go. Somehow they immediately accelerated back towards the front, but there simply wasn't enough time to catch the new leader, Brad Morrison.

Much like his personality off the track, calm and collected, Morrison showed his patience and didn't succumb to the woes of the aggressive driving around him with the pressure on. Brad took home the season championship trophy finishing atop the Pepsi Street Stock division with a total of 608 points, followed by Bart Hector Jr, with 589 points.

John Hagood finished his season with a clean sweep of the Schaeffer Oil Mini stock division for the second straight week.

Hagood already had an untouchable lead in the series, but added to it with another great performance on Saturday night securing himself the season championship trophy after finishing sixth in the division in 2012.

Diana Schiable also earned a clean sweep with the fastest qualifying time and winning the trophy dash, heat race, and main event in the Kim Janke State Farm Youth Hornets division.

While Schiable was clearly the most improved driver by the end of the season she finished just shy of winning the season's points championship, as Dylan Heer edged her out by just 36 points to win his second straight trophy.