1960

By 1960, Earl Smith was no longer the new face in the pits—he was a name racers recognized.

That season, Earl debuted a fresh 1960 Chevrolet Impala, its clean lines and wide stance marking the next chapter for Earl Smith Chevrolet Racing Enterprises. Under the hood sat what had become his calling card: the trusted 348-cubic-inch Chevrolet W-motor topped with three deuces. It wasn’t just an engine choice—it was a statement. Earl believed in what worked, and the 348 had earned his confidence pass after pass.

The new Impala was quicker, more refined, and better sorted than anything Earl had raced before. Years of trial and error showed in the details—weight where it mattered, gearing dialed in, and a setup that let the car leave hard and pull clean through the top end. When Earl rolled into the staging lanes, the tri-power’s sharp bark announced his arrival long before the starter raised his arms.

Throughout 1960, Earl campaigned the Impala across the Carolinas and beyond, lining up against increasingly tough competition. He drove with patience and precision now, reading tracks, adjusting to conditions, and trusting his instincts. Each run built on the last, the Impala proving as dependable as it was fast.

The 1960 season wasn’t about flash—it was about consistency.

While others chased the latest trends, Earl refined his program. The familiar rumble of the 348 and the steady performance of the Impala reflected a racer who understood his machine and his craft. Wins mattered, but so did finishes, and Earl was there at the end more often than not.

By the close of 1960, the new Impala had done exactly what Earl intended. It strengthened his reputation, carried the momentum of the years before, and confirmed that Earl Smith Chevrolet Racing Enterprises was built on smart choices, hard work, and Chevrolets that could be trusted when the lights came down.