2003

In 2003, Earl Smith officially stepped away from driving, retiring at the age of 73 after a lifetime spent behind the wheel. While his days of staging lanes and win lights had come to an end, Earl was far from slowing down.

Retirement from driving didn’t mean retirement from racing.

Earl remained deeply involved at the shop, doing what he had always done best—working on cars, offering advice, sharing stories, and passing down knowledge earned over decades of competition. His presence was constant, his eye still sharp, and his passion for racing unchanged.

Even without a helmet on, Earl continued to shape the Smith racing legacy, proving that while drivers may eventually step out of the seat, true racers never leave the sport.