SOPHOMORE JINX DOESN’T STOP ROCKY GROVE’S BRUCE SMITH

by Brian Spaid

Around the world of auto racing, the month of May is heralded as the greatest each year due to the Indianapolis 500. In the 84 years of the history of the world’s most famous race, however, no driver with the name Smith has ever qualified.

Although Rocky Grove’s Bruce Smith is not racing for victory at Indianapolis, he is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with at Tri-City Speedway.

"We’ve won two heats so far this year," said Smith, "and I think we’re real close to finally ending up in victory lane."

Smith, 43, is in his sophomore year of competition in the Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars. After three years of go kart racing at local tracks, Smith moved to full-bodied racers in 1999. In his first feature race at Tri-City, he finished third. He scored two more top five finishes and three heat race wins before the end of the season. Along the way, the realities of auto racing caught up with him.

"Last year went well, but we ran into a string of bad luck," recalls Smith. "I was out racing for three weeks, but we still wound up 11^th in the point standings."

Smith’s main nemesis was a blown engine midway through the year. In the end, Billy Beiter of Cochranton was the Rookie of the Year in the Stock Car division and Smith was looking forward to the 2000 season.

"I’ve always wanted to race bigger cars than go karts," said Smith. "I wanted to try it before I got too old. It’s a riot. It’s everything I thought it would be and more."

Racing has been in Smith’s blood for many years. His father, Jack, 72, raced in the late 1950s to the mid-1960s. A decade later, his brother, Lee, raced semi late models at Tri-City, and Smith helped as a mechanic. In 1996, he and his son, Shawn, 17, started racing go karts before Smith moved on to Stock Cars.

"Shawn is a more natural driver than I am," said Smith proudly. "I think he’ll start racing Stock Cars soon and he should do real well."

This season, Smith seems to be have shaken any sophomore jinx. On April 30, he was near the front of the pack and spun only a few laps into the feature event. He raced back through the field to finish sixth. Last Sunday, after starting midpack. He was running second with less then three laps to go when the Chevrolet 406 c.i. engine in Smith’s 1986 Buick Regal overheated and he pulled into the pits to finish 12^th.

"The car is good this season. I worked hard over the winter to learn more about making the handling better. My dad builds the engines and he put together a good one. I really believe that I can win a feature for the entire team."

Smith receives support from a number of local businesses. These include William Karns Plumbing and Heating, Airgas, Engles Trucking Services, Tots-to-Teens and Lowry’s Auto Body of Franklin, J&A Tool Company and Smith Motorsports of Rocky Grove, and Hazletts Sheet Metal and Continental Plastics of Oil City. In fact, Smith is the manager of the overhaul division at Continental.

Although Smith is not gearing up for the Indianapolis 500 this month, he could be visiting the winner’s circle at his favorite track.

"I love to race at Tri-City. There are a lot of fast cars there and, when you beat them, you know you’ve beaten the best. We have a good group of Stock Car racers and teams. Most of us get along and the track officials treat all of us well. I also have a lot of close friends in the area too, and I know they are pulling for me each week."

Maybe that famed bottle of milk will finally reach Smith’s lips when the checkered flag falls. In fact, it’s certain, even if it isn’t Indy.