Toccoa Raceway
David Smith continues family's Toccoa legacy
TOCCOA, Ga. (July 27) — David Smith of Inman, S.C., has the Toccoa Speedway in his bloodline. His grandfather Charlie Mize was a longtime promoter of the speedway, and his father Glen Smith often raced his way into victory lane at the quirky 5/16-mile oval.
On Saturday night, Smith added to his family’s tradition in Toccoa, taking his first ever checkered flag at the track and the $2,000 victory in the Shriners Benefit 40 for the FASTRAK City Chevrolet Southeast Tour.
“There’s obviously a lot of heritage for us here, it always suits me when I come here, but to win here on the FASTRAK Tour that just makes this place mean so much more,” said Smith, who scored his second win of the season on the Crate Late Model tour. “We’ve struggled the first bit of the year, but I think we’ve found something. We’re really looking forward to the rest of the year.”
David McCoy of Franklin, N.C., chased Smith across the line to finish second, with Cla Knight of North Augusta, S.C., Matt Long of Concord, N.C., and Lee Cooper of Woodruff, S.C., rounding out the top five.
Smith started on the pole and never gave up the bottom in leading every lap. The race took three attempts to get started. The worst caution of the night occurred when Taylor Hicks tangled with Ohio native Charles Daughtry. The other three cautions we’re for debris or drivers cutting down tires.
While McCoy moved up to second past Knight on a mid-race restart, he was no match for Smith.
“You’ll never see me hang my head when I run second to David Smith,” said McCoy, a Toccoa Speedway regular. “He’s a hell of a race car driver.”
Ron Parker of Lawndale, N.C., entered the race leading the series points, but struggled the entire evening ending with a hit in the points lead and finishing 11th.
FASTRAK Southeast @ Toccoa: (1) David Smith, (2) David McCoy, (3) Cla Knight, (4) Matt Long, (5) Lee Cooper, (6) Hot Rod Lamance, (7) Frankie Beard, (8) Jordan Dill, (9) Jamie Oliver, (10) Drew Benfield, (11) Ron Parker, (12) Taylor Hicks, (13) Trent Feltman, (14) Charles Daugherty, (15) Mike Davidson, (16) Benji Cole, (17) Wayne Wilborn, (18) Donald Bradsher, (19) Jimmy Ivester.
