Stevie Smith Calls It A Career
Story By: STEVIE SMITH / RACING MEDIA
Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM / PHOTO STAFF
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. —February 23, 2017- Veteran sprint car driver Stevie Smith has retired after 31 years in the sport. Smith, 50, made the announcement on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon.
Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is the son of popular racing driver Steve Smith, first made a name for himself on the Central Pennsylvania scene before racing many seasons with the World of Outlaws.
Smith, who has raced only part time in recent years, made the decision primarily to devote more time to his business — Smith Titanium.
“Over the last few years, it’s been hard to juggle both the business and racing,” read the statement on The Black Bandit Facebook page. “Something had to give, and after 30+ years in the seat Stevie made the tough choice to stop racing. There have been many wonderful people who have been a part of his career and he is thankful for every one of them.”
Smith won his first World of Outlaws feature in 1988 and he is tied with Dave Blaney on the all-time WoO winners list with 70 victories. Smith also won 19 Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions features and 222 sprint car features throughout the country.
Smith, who was once referred to as “The Next King of the Outlaws,” finished a career-best second in the World of Outlaws standings in 1992.
Smith earned three National Open victories at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway and qualified for the Knoxville Nationals A-Main 21 times while finishing in the top five on six occasions with a best finish of second.
Smith’s last victory came in The Dirt Classic at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Speedway while driving for Fred Rahmer.
According to the Facebook post, Rahmer told Smith he would have a car ready for him should he change his mind.
