Third Generation Driver Curt Smith Jr. had his best career year behind the wheel in 2023, scoring three wins in the CCRA and going to the quarter finals or farther in 60% of his races attended in the CCRA. Curt Jr. also posted a strong third round appearance at the NHRA Division 2 event at Rockingham Dragway, losing with the bye to the semi finals on the line.
The 2023 CCRA season started out at Kinston Dragstrip, where Curt Jr. posted back to back quarter final finishes, starting the year off strong.
The next stop on the 2023 CCRA season was at Coastal Plains Raceway Park, where the third generation driver won his first career race on Saturday. After missing the CCRA races at Rockingham Dragway due to getting married to his wife Marina, Curt Jr. showed up at Darlington Dragway for the next stop on the CCRA tour. After a rainout on Saturday, Curt Jr. won back-to-back races on Sunday; one 1/8 mile and one 1/4 mile; etching his name into the Smith family record book at Darlington, a place that has been good to the family in years past.
The performance of back-to-back wins at the legendary Darlington Dragway, earned Curt Jr. a place on the Drag Champ Top 10 drivers list for that week. Curt Jr. ended his 2023 CCRA season at Coastal Plains Raceway Park, losing in the third round by 1 thousandth of a second, but not before securing a second place season points finish out of 47 drivers that entered the points. The CCRA had 90 different racers compete this year in a event, with NC, SC, VA, NH, and FL represented. There was 9 different winners on the season, with Curt Smith Jr. leading the total with three wins. After Curt Jr.'s career record season performance, the now 67 year old team of Curtis Smith Racing has a lot to look forward to for the 2024 season. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of our team please email curtsmithmedia@gmail.com for more information.
