When Angie Smith’s Denso Buell broke in the final round of the most recent NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle event in Chicago, she thought things couldn’t get much worse, but they did.
Story by Kevin McKenna
Ten days later, Smith and her husband, Matt, were headed to the next event at Maryland International Raceway, May 29-31, when life intervened. Matt developed a case of gallstones, putting the team’s event in jeopardy. Matt is not just a rider and team owner, he’s also the crew chief for each of MSR’s four Buell entries. From his hospital bed, Matt decided to run all four bikes, calling in veteran Chip Ellis to replace him on his own Denso Buell.
Despite the adversity, Angie overcame the frustration of the Chicago loss and claimed her first win in nearly four years by beating Ryan Oehler in the final round. Smith also made drag racing history by capturing the 200th win by a female in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series after a career-best run of 6.683 seconds at 201.52 in the final round.
“I am just ecstatic because at 7 a.m. Friday, we were running zero bikes. We were [making one qualifying attempt] to get our 30 points, packing up and going home,” Smith said. “At 10 a.m. Matt said, ‘We’re running all four bikes, I believe in you, and you can do it.’ So that’s what we did. It was tough, and it was not easy, and it’s one of those things when your team believes in you and your husband believes in you.”
The Chicago final notwithstanding, Smith continued to have the best bike in the category for the second straight race. This time, she made sure to finish the job, earning her fourth career victory in the class. From his hospital bed, Matt tuned Angie’s bike to some of the best runs of her career during qualifying, and he was back at the track on Sunday to see her dominate, winning against Brayden Davis and Clayton Howey. Angie is now second in points, 26 behind defending champion Richard Gadson.
“Matt is a remarkable person for him to just navigate running four motorcycles, lining four people up,” Angie said. “It was just a challenge, and as a team, we had to step up to the plate. I was very thankful that Matt made it back before the first round on Sunday. He didn’t want to be at the hospital; he wanted to be there with us.”
Smith was also excited to be part of NHRA’s long list of female competitors, which includes Pro Stock Motorcycle racers Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer, Peggy Llewellyn and Smith’s own teammate, Jianna Evaristo, and to reach 200 pro wins.
“It means everything [to get the 200th]. From Erica Enders to Shirley Muldowney to Angelle, to all of those ladies who have paved the way for me to come out here, and I get to call some of them my really good friends, and that’s what means so much to me. We have such a close relationship, and I will always be the 200th. I’m glad I can represent the women of NHRA.”
Oehler also had a weekend to remember, advancing to his first final round in five years and his fifth in his career, continuing to show strong progress with round wins over Chase Van Sant, reigning world champion Gadson, and Jianna Evaristo.
Oehler caught a big break in round one when he slowed, but Van Sant fouled at the start. A round later, Oehler made the best run of his career, posting a 6.698 elapsed time and a 203.12 mph speed in his win over Gadson.
The Pro Stock Motorcycle class will return in two weeks at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, June 12-14.CN
2026 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 5 Results
ROUND ONE — Brayden Davis, Buell, 6.743, 202.64 def. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, Broke; Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.702, 204.98 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.786, 201.46; Ryan Oehler, Buell, 10.750, 75.57 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.776, 200.92 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.827, 200.71; Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.733, 202.21 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.799, 198.26; John Hall, 6.758, 199.82 def. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, Broke – No Show; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.715, 203.65 was unopposed; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.716, 201.88 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS — Howey, 6.751, 199.94 def. Ellis, Broke; Smith, 6.702, 201.49 def. Davis, Foul – Red Light; Evaristo, 6.746, 202.06 def. Hall, 6.778, 199.35; Oehler, 6.697, 203.12 def. Gadson, 6.734, 201.58;
SEMIFINALS — Smith, 6.696, 201.52 def. Howey, 6.776, 198.85; Oehler, 6.728, 201.82 def. Evaristo, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL
- Angie Smith (.041) 6.683, 201.52 mph
- Ryan Oehler (.048) 6.741, 201.91 mph
