{"id":13484,"date":"2023-05-11T12:06:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T16:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superdirtcarseries.com\/?p=13484"},"modified":"2023-08-07T16:44:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-07T20:44:50","slug":"sophomore-shine-darren-smith-finds-new-stride-in-sophomore-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/superdirtcarseries.com\/news\/sophomore-shine-darren-smith-finds-new-stride-in-sophomore-season\/","title":{"rendered":"SOPHOMORE SHINE: Darren Smith Finds New Stride in Sophomore Season"},"content":{"rendered":"
A new track record and first career top-five finish highlight a strong start to Darren Smith\u2019s sophomore season with the Super DIRTcar Series<\/em><\/p>\n Darren Smith started his sophomore season with the Super DIRTcar Series looking like a different driver.<\/p>\n After ending his rookie season with no top-10 finishes and no Fast Time Awards, he opened the 2023 season with his first career top-five and scored a new track record.<\/p>\n The 180-turnaround is a result of spending the off season mapping out where improvements were needed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year, we really took time to make sure we had the right motor that we needed, our cars were put together meticulously,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThere was a lot of preparation. I do a lot of studying, watching old races, people put GoPros up on YouTube. I\u2019m working on getting a Go-Pro in my car so I can start watching myself. It was a lot of preparation and doing things the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n His enhanced approach paid dividends out of the gate with Smith capturing his first career Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux Fast Time Award during the King of the Big Blocks event at Bridgeport Motorsports Park \u2013 the first points-paying matchup of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a really cool feeling,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI\u2019ve never had success like that with the Series because of how hard it is. It was pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n The Binghamton, NY native carried that momentum into the Feature, leading the pack for 59 laps of the 75-lap Feature. He lost the lead to eventual winner Mat Williamson after struggling to navigate slower traffic \u2013 a situation he\u2019d yet to face with the Series.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I had the car to win,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThat\u2019s how good I felt. It was just once I got into lapped traffic, it was kind of intimidating. Being Series guys that you have seen win Series races, now you\u2019re coming up to lap them, it was a little intimidating. I\u2019ve never been in that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n