Jen Smith's victory lane interview after the Grand Detour qualifier...
Q: Jennifer Smith, you just scored a victory in the Grand Detour qualifying race and are now in the main event after missing two consecutive races. Has your confidence been re-instilled?
A: Absolutely! Not long ago, I gave up hope on AARO, but this win came along and gave me and this whole team something we could hold on to. I want that main race to come sooner than you could ever know! I've gotta thank all the guys at 426 for this. Before I met them, I used to dream of my professional career, make it up in my mind. And all I ever wanted was to be understood by my team, and today they've been the only one that could. I could never turn my back on them.
Q: What were the conditions like out there?
A: This place is just a rat's race in a rat's nest. Everyone fought like a sailor, 'cause we knew in another lap we could all be going to hell. But once I took a stand and got to the lead, I knew I didn't need to run from all the wrecks. So I just threw my hands up.
Q: We understand your teammate Herb Cilantro, the current points leader, has a history of short-track racing under his belt, so did he help you at all this weekend with figuring out the car?
A: Oh, he told me everything he learned about this place. He couldn't forget his times, his corner entries, his spoiler angle...I didn't care what the veterans tell the other rookies, I just heard him out and did what he said in practice.