The current Marketing Director for the PDRA, Will Smith, cashed in on a life-long dream of licensing in a Top Fuel Dragster this past weekend at US 131 Motorsports Park. Smith has been working with former NHRA 3X Top Fuel World Champion, Larry Dixon and his team at LDR to make this dream come true.

Like most Drag Racing enthusiasts, Will’s passion in life has always been drag racing. Although new to the Top Fuel Pilot’s seat, Smith is no stranger to the driver’s seat or success in the sport. His drag racing career started over 24 years ago when he jumped into the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League at the age of 8. After a decade in juniors, Smith went on to license in NHRA Super Comp and Super Gas through the Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School. In 2017, he upgraded his NHRA license to Top Alcohol Dragster and began driving the famed Hirata Motorsports A/Fuel Dragster. Smith and Team Hirata were successful in their endeavors, together gaining a #1 qualifier, 1 Regional win, and finishing 3rd in the North Central Region of the NHRA in 2019 and 2020. Outside of Team Hirata, earlier this season, Smith hopped in Robin Samsel’s car for a one-race deal at the ‘Baby Gators’, and took home the NHRA’s coveted Wally.

“To have this kind of opportunity with Larry Dixon is a dream come true,” boasted Smith. “I had to make a 1/8th mile pass and two full passes to upgrade my license from Top Alcohol to Top Fuel and we were able to knock it all out in Michigan over the weekend. On top of that, I had one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen and an incredible team of guys that we couldn’t have done this without.”

Former 3X NHRA Top Fuel World Champion, Larry Dixon is not only a friend of Will's, but is the driving force behind this new adventure for Smith. 

"I've known Will for years after working together at our Al-Anabi (former Top Fuel Team) days and I knew his goals were to move up in the ranks and eventually race Top Fuel someday," said Dixon. "We kept in touch and he would occasionally ask me questions and I would do my best to guide him. We talked about doing this earlier this year and it didn't pan out, so for the stars to align like this is awesome because of how naturally it all progressed." 

Smith gained his license with the final two passes of 3.94 at 313 mph pass Saturday, a 3.87 at 309 mph Sunday morning. And just like that, he became the newest licensed Top Fuel Driver.

“I expected so much emotion from one end to the other, but when it all happened it was an odd calmness. Like I was born to do this,” said Smith. “I have so much to learn, and I don’t mean this in a confident or cocky way, but being in that car is where I belong. This has all come together like a dream and I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher than Larry. Not only is he a great friend, but having a 3x World Champ who wants to help you succeed is wild.”

While many dream up this goal, Smith impressed Dixon with his drive to actually 'stomp on that loud pedal' instead of sit on the sidelines and talk about it. 

"I've always been a one step at a time kind of guy, but this licensing gives him credibility. It shows his ambition to take this to the next level instead of dreaming big and waiting for things to potentially happen," Dixon said of Smith. "Not a lot of people do whatever it takes to progress like he is , but sometimes you've got to stand on the gas and just go!" 

While this dream has been brewing for decades, Smith’s real life is also all drag racing all of the time. Since 2016, Smith has been the full-time Director of Marketing for the PDRA and spends most of his time touring the series. He has always been very vocal about the support the Franklin family and the rest of the PDRA has given him in chasing dreams like this.

“The PDRA played a huge role in me being able to achieve this goal,” Smith said. “Over the last few years we had conflicting races with my TAD (Top Alcohol Dragster) and they would allow me to fly in late and handle the PDRA stuff in anyway I could so that I could continue to race while keeping up with my responsibilities within the series. The staff would pick up my slack when I was gone and that is huge. All of that helped lead up to this opportunity and I couldn’t have done this without the PDRA staff and Franklin family.”

With a literal legend guiding you, it may seem hard to impress, but Smith's passion that initially caught Dixon's eye lived up to all of his expectations once he sat in the seat. 

"I don't know how he could have done any better," boasted Dixon. "He had zero experience in this class and a clean slate which made it easy to work with. Each pass got better and better and now that he's got this step under his belt, we can start thinking about the future and that excites me." 

Although the future is unclear for Smith and his Top Fuel Career, simply licensing was never the end game.

“Moving forward we are looking to try to get in a race or two this season. We would obviously need to secure some funding in order to do so, with the US Nationals in Indianapolis being the big goal,” said Smith. "The future is unknown, but I know it’s bright. I am truly living a dream getting to work for the PDRA and continually chase this wild dream of mine. I can’t thank everyone involved enough for their support and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. For now, it’s time to get ready for the PDRA Northern Nationals this weekend.”