Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff stands as one of the most accomplished and recognizable cars in IHRA history—a true symbol of longevity, ingenuity, and championship performance. What makes its story even more compelling is its humble beginning and the personality that grew with it over time.

Built by Curtis in the 1970s, Hot Stuff started life as an old parts car sitting behind his father Earl’s shop. Where others saw scrap, Curtis saw opportunity. Through determination, mechanical skill, and vision, he transformed that forgotten car into a competitive race machine—laying the groundwork for a career defined by success.

The car’s now-iconic name came about in a moment of perfect timing. While towing the car to be painted for the very first time by Earl Stone, Curtis heard Hot Stuff by Donna Summer come on the radio. The name stuck instantly, and from that point on, the car would be known as Hot Stuff—a name that would soon become legendary in drag racing circles.

Earl Stone would go on to play a key role in the car’s identity, creating each of Hot Stuff’s paint jobs over the years. His work gave the car its unmistakable look, evolving visually while maintaining the reputation it built on the track.

That reputation was forged through winning. Hot Stuff became synonymous with success, accounting for the majority of Curtis’s national event victories. Its consistency and performance made it a dominant force across decades of competition.

In 1985, Curtis made history by becoming the first IHRA Sportsman driver to win three national events in a row, a groundbreaking accomplishment that highlighted both his driving ability and the car’s reliability.

The success reached its peak in 1996, when Curtis drove Hot Stuff to the IHRA Stock Eliminator World Championship, cementing its place among the sport’s elite.

Hot Stuff also proved its strength beyond IHRA competition. In 1990, Curtis piloted the car to victory at the prestigious NHRA Winston Invitational, demonstrating its ability to compete—and win—on one of drag racing’s biggest stages.

As the years passed, the car became more than just a race-winning machine—it became a family legacy. In 2010, Curt Smith Jr. made his driving debut behind the wheel, continuing the tradition and adding a new chapter to the story.

What truly sets Hot Stuff apart is its longevity. Decades after being built from an old parts car behind Earl’s shop, it remains active and competitive. Curtis still drives the car today, competing in select NHRA and IHRA events each year—proving that both the car and the passion behind it have stood the test of time.

From its unlikely beginnings and a song on the radio that gave it a name, to championship glory and generational impact, Hot Stuff represents the very essence of grassroots drag racing—where vision, hard work, and heart can turn something ordinary into something legendary.