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Schmelzle Produces Pair of Strong Finishes During Summer Thunder Sprint Series Opening Weekend

(Photo by Malcolm White Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – YAKIMA, Wash. (April 10, 2019) – Chris Schmelzle kicked off the season by earning a podium finish last Friday night and another top-10 result on Saturday at Yakima Dirt Track during the Summer Thunder Sprint Series season-opening doubleheader.

"My confidence in my race car, race team and abilities is very high right now," he said. "What I really need to work on is getting more aggressive out there, especially in lapped traffic."

The green flag dropped on the 2019 campaign on Friday with Schmelzle qualifying fifth quickest followed by a runner-up result in a heat race. That lined him up on the inside of the third row for the A Main.

Schmelzle gained a pair of positions before advancing another spot late in the race when a fellow competitor dropped out. When the checkered flag was waved Schmelzle was credited with a second-place finish.

"It was definitely a good start to the season," he said. "We got a little lucky, but we're going to need some of that to stay in the hunt all year long."

Schmelzle started Saturday night off a bit quicker, qualifying third quickest overall. He came away from the heat race with a fourth-place run and entered the main event with confidence.

"I went into the main looking to run the bottom after starting third," he said. "But after I finally got in line everyone was wide open around the top."

While Schmelzle set up for running the bottom, he noted that another issue that he encountered was being too careful in traffic. Schmelzle hung on for a sixth-place result.

"I am 100 percent confident in the car and my setups," he said. "I just need to get more aggressive, but other than that it was a great, great start to the year."

Schmelzle returns to action for Round 3 of the Summer Thunder Sprint Series season on May 5 at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash.

QUICK RESULTS –

April 5 – Yakima Dirt Track in Yakima, Wash. – Qualifying: 5; Heat Race 2 (3); Feature: 2 (5).

April 6 – Yakima Dirt Track in Yakima, Wash. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 4 (4); Feature: 6 (3).

SEASON STATS –

2 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 2 top 10s, 2 top 15s, 2 top 20s

UP NEXT –

May 5 at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash., with the Summer Thunder Sprint Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrisschmelzle?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_57c/

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Carey's Auto Body

Carey’s Auto Body, which is located in Colville, Wash., is a collision repair specialist that has been in business for more than 30 years serving its local community and getting cars back on the road.

“Carey’s Auto Body has a first-class facility and always does first-class work,” Schmelzle said. “It’s an absolute pleasure to represent such a top-notch local business.”

Schmelzle would also like to thank CS Fabworks, Walt and Fran Peterson, Rodger’s Racing Engines, Rocket Designs and Naake Suspension for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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