1958

By the time 1958 rolled around, Earl Smith wasn’t just chasing races anymore—he was building a legacy.

That year, Earl debuted a brand-new weapon: a 1958 Chevrolet Impala. Longer, lower, and louder than anything he had raced before, the Impala carried a 348-cubic-inch W-motor topped with three deuces, the kind of setup that turned heads before it ever fired. Polished valve covers, fuel lines run just right, and a stance that meant business—the car looked fast sitting still.

This time, Earl was behind the wheel full time.

Earl drove with confidence, knowing when to lean on the throttle and when to let the car work. The Impala responded like it was built just for him, pulling hard through the gears and charging down the strip with a sound that could only come from a tri-power Chevrolet at full song.

Near Daytona, at Flagler Beach Airport, Earl entered the Impala in the NHRA/NASCAR drag racing event held on the long stretches of concrete runway. Lining up against racers from across the country, Earl proved he belonged there, putting the Chevrolet solidly into competition and earning respect with every pass. The ocean breeze mixed with the smell of race fuel as the Impala clawed for traction and stormed through the lights. 

Back home, the Impala became a familiar sight throughout the Carolinas. From airport strips to small-town dragways, Earl chased points, trophies, and respect. Win or lose, the ’58 ran strong, and Earl drove it like it was an extension of himself.

Years later, Earl would say it without hesitation—the 1958 Impala was his favorite race car.

It wasn’t just the power of the 348 or the flash of the triple carbs. It was the year everything clicked. Earl Smith Chevrolet Racing Enterprises had found its driver, its identity, and its direction—one hard-charging pass at a time.