Recent News

WEDDING BELLS!

The entire Big Daddy's family extends their congratulations and best wishes to Von and Mona Smith on their marriage on October 29th, 2000.

Von drove his Big Daddy's sponsored IHRA Funny car to yet another National Championship in 1999, for his current standings visit IHRA.com

Von Smith Not To Be Denied, Claims Third Pro Funny Car Championship In 1999
Von Smith Gets A Rare Second Round Departure At World Nationals

Additional News
Defending World Champion Von Smith Nails Down Top Position On First Shot, Secures New Associate Sponsor

Getting Started / Career Highlights

Getting Started

Von began his motor racing involvement with two wheelers; at a time when most boys his age were starting Little League. A thirst for winning, coupled with agility and driving skills, propelled Von through numerous motorcross classes; from the smaller 80cc class to the big 500's. Finishing in the top three more than a 100 times with more than 50 victories, Von earned the title of Tennessee State Champion three times, and Southeastern Regional Champion twice. He left the cycles in 1984, as the Runner-up in the 500cc Division, National Motorcross Championship.

His interests peeked by his Dad's weekend racing, Von always wanted to be a Drag Racing Champion. His skills and intense focus have made that possible. In 1987, he entered the sport, and by the close of 1988, he had won a National Series Championship in a Junior Stock Oldsmobile Cutlass. With the mounting desire to go both quicker and at higher speeds, he entered IHRA's "Quick Rod" class in 1990, and then on to "Top Dragster".

Breaking through the 200 miles-per-hour barrier in the "Top Dragster", along with tuning a supercharged car, made the TAFC the next logical challenge. Purchasing a used car at first, Von adapted quickly to the shorter wheel-base and higher horsepower of the supercharged 540 cubic inch alcohol burner - running speeds over 230 mph. At the close of 1995, a new Gordy Chassis was on the way, he finished seventh in IHRA TAFC and fourth in the NHRA's Division 2. From this platform, he vaulted to the championship in 1996 and barely missed repeating in 1997, finishing a very close second.
Von Smith is successful because he's talented and driven by a burning desire to compete. He's liked and respected by his peers because he is even tempered, humble and mixes well with people. Around his hometown and at the race track, Von is known for his character qualities. Even his two young sons can't wait to try to follow in Dad's footsteps, as a man and a racer. Given his driving skill, patience and the VSR equipment, his proven consistency will take a sponsor, looking for a "high performance image" to another championship.

Von is proof that "Nice Guys" can finish first!

Career Highlights

Dominating the field in 1998, Von captured his second Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC) Championship in last three years. With still one national event remaining in the season he has established a new benchmark for national event wins in one season with five, and is the odds-on-favorite to make it six of seven in the national event remaining. In consecutive events, he set and tied a new IHRA Elapsed Time World Record (5.884 Seconds) for a Blown/Supercharged Top Alcohol Funny Car.

In just his first year in a TAFC, 1995 Von scored a Top-Ten finish in the IHRA point standings. In 1996, Von secured the IHRA World Championship with nine semifinal appearances out of ten contested national events. Of those nine semifinals, he went on to five finals, winning first in Nebraska and wrapping up the championship with a victory in the final event at Darlington. 1997 was highlighted by a win at Cordova and consistent semi-final and finals appearances resulting in second place in the TAFC IHRA World Championship.

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