AUSTIN, TX (March 4, 2007) -- The first race of the 2007 season started with Casey Smith and the No. 99 Rapid Disposal/Gary Buchanan Custom Homes Chevrolet making an impressive drive from the sixth starting spot to the lead in the 31st Annual Rattler. But with 163 laps remaining in the 250 lap competition a broken clutch sent Casey to the pits, finishing his day in 20th place.

Casey and the No. 99 team proved themselves as one-to-watch when they showed up to South Alabama Speedway.  Smith showed quick practice times on the 4/10ths mile, newly repaved oval, but had to be the 5th driver out to qualify which was a proven disadvantage.  Smith knew he would have to pull out a perfect lap and it was good enough to start towards the front of the field.

“The track was really dirty when we went out to qualify because all of the haulers moved out of the infield right before qualifying”  Casey said.  “I slowed down 2/10’s what I ran in practice.  The times picked up about 15 cars into qualifying, so we didn’t qualify as good as we could have, but it was good considering.”

Smith lined up 6th to take the green flag Sunday afternoon.  The No. 99 Chevrolet took the lead less than 70 laps into the show. 

“The first few laps I was just riding and then the car kept getting better and better and turning really well.  Others seemed to be getting tight and the car was so good I was catching them and passing them one by one.  I caught [Shane] Seig (race leader) in lap traffic, and I got a little sideways with a lapped car. Sieg tried to make the pass and he got messed up turning him around.”

On lap 78 a competition yellow was thrown to honor the late Charlie Bradberry.  Smith led the pack into the pits. 

“Lap 78 was a mandatory caution and you had 10 laps [from the pace car] to do what ever you wanted.  We changed some settings on the right rear shock and changed the stagger around, put new tires on and filled up with fuel.  I had gotten into Matt Merrell [fellow Texas driver] and it pushed the hood up, so we fixed that.  We were set to go to the end.”

Smith lead the re-start on lap 88.  All was good as he took the green flag, but not for long. 

“I hit the gas coming off of turn 2 and it wouldn’t go.  We determined the clutch bolts broke.  I am disgusted about it.  We probably had the fastest car, I wasn’t running hard, and took the lead just riding around.  It is disgusting having a car that good and something like this happen, cause you only get them every once in a while.”

Up next for the No. 99 Rapid Disposal team is the running of the Blizzard Series/Miller Lite Series events at Pensacola and Mobile on April 13 and 14.

 For more information please visit www.caseysmithracing.com.