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Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Smith

Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Smith
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc's Photos)
Diversity is something that you can see at Willamette Speedway regularly with drivers running several classes in the same night. One such driver is Brian Smith of Albany, Oregon who’s résumé includes nearly every type of car that you can run on dirt. Smith has one championship to his credit back in 2002 at the Madras Speedway in the Sportsman ranks and was also Rookie of the Year with the Old Time Racers of Oregon Hardtop series in 1997.

Driver: Brian Smith
Home Track: Willamette Speedway
Hometown: Albany, Oregon
Occupation: Diesel Mechanic
Age: 33
Years Racing: 18

Classification: Super Sports/Sportsman
Car Number: 74 (Super Sports)/1 (Sportsman)
Chassis: C.J. Rayburn Race Cars (Super Sports)/Bob Pierce Race Cars (Sportsman)
Sponsors: Knothole Market, Virgil Hanson Automotive Machine (Super Sports)/ Hackney Racing (Sportsman)
Special Thanks: Crystal Smith (wife), Dan Dieble, Randy Boyd, Glen Hackney, Danny Altom, Jeff Rash, Brian Brown

BD: Brian you have a very diverse racing background. You never quite know what you are going to show up in. You have pretty much ran in every division on dirt, correct?
BS: I’ve raced just about all there is. I’ve ran Dwarf Cars, Sprints, Modifieds, Late Models, Super Sports, Sportsman, and Hardtops. I think the Midgets are the only type of car I haven’t ran. I really like to drive different things.

BD: Is there a class that you like more than the other?
BS: I would probably say the Sportsman, it’s really fun. But the Super Sports are cool because the competition is pretty tough. I’ve won a main event in every division I’ve ran with except for the Late Models.

BD: In the Super Sports you drive for Dan Dieble. How did that come along?
BS: Basically I went over and put the rear end in his car. He was talking about running a different car and I had my Swartz and I offered it to him. After that he offered me to run his Super Sport.

BD: A person that has seems to be your right hand man in racing is Randy Boyd. Describe that relationship.
BS: My wife is my best friend. But Randy is like a brother to me. We have worked on a lot of cars together. We also help a lot of people out as much as possible especially the ones just starting out. We want them to enjoy racing the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

BD: A guy that you have driver for a lot is Glen Hackney. How did that partnership start?
BS: On night years ago Glen didn’t have a driver for one of his cars and asked if I would hop in. I did and finished 3rd in the Modified feature. Another night his main driver, Kevin Keeney, wasn’t feeling well and Glen had me drive for him and I won the B Main in the Late Models. Every year he calls me to give me an opportunity to drive for him.

Willamette Speedway returns to action this Friday for the Karts and Saturday for their fifth race of 2013. Classes featured include the DIRTcar Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Street Stocks, and Mini Trucks. For more information log on to http://www.trophymotorsports.com or call the brand new Northwest Tracks Hotline at (360)-699-RACE.

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