Mike Smith has raced for the 30 years, but when his son Ryan started getting serious, he hung up the helmet and grabbed a wrench. Now he’s crew chiefing his son’s effort on the Dirt Rich TV American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products.
“In 2023, we both raced, but it was harder and hard to do,” Mike, of Rogersville, Tennessee, said. “I was too focused on him.”
Mike admits that he misses the perspective from the driver’s seat, but he’s enjoying wrenching on his son’s ride.
“It’s a different kind of fun for me now,” said Mike. “I’m watching him get better every week. It’s actually good for me as I’m getting older and it’s getting harder to get in an out of the car.”
Mike estimated that Ryan has only raced 40-or-so times in a late model. Despite the relative inexperience, the 20-year-old has seen some significant gains. Recently, he set fast time, won his heat, and sat on the pole at Lawrenceburg Speedway. Unfortunately, a leaking radiator thwarted Ryan’s chances for a win. Last week at Lake Cumberland Speedway he finished fourth to three top-notch drivers: Trevor Sise, Zach Sise and Skylar Marlar. Ryan appears poised for a breakthrough winner sooner rather than later, thanks in part to the lessons that his father learned.
“I didn’t know as much when I started,” Mike said. “Over the years, the more I learned and it’s made a shortcut [for Ryan]. I didn’t adjust the car enough when I raced — I was afraid to. Now, we’re not afraid to change the car for track conditions.”
Ryan and Mike Smith continue to follow the Dirt Rich TV American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products schedule. This weekend, they have a doubleheader in Virginia. On Saturday, August 30, the father-and-son duo head to Natural Bridge Speedway. Then, on Sunday, August 31, it is Wythe Raceway. Will this weekend be the one where they crack victory lane? They seem oh so close.
Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Outside Groove is a sponsor of the American All-Star Series. The American All-Star Series paid for the production of this article. The content is not subject to the approval of the American All-Star Series.
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
