The title says it all. Yes it’s backwards as the saying says otherwise, but in auto racing you never know what is coming next. That will never be as true as the turnabout in the off season for the 2014 Modified Championship team of Puddin Swisher as defending champ Danny Bohn steps away and longtime veteran John Smith takes the helm once more.
The red and yellow #53 at Bowman Gray stadium is one of the most famous cars around. For decades upon decades it has ran with Puddin behind the wheel and then various drivers after an accident at Caraway Speedway ended his career but never had the one thing it was always missing, a championship. Last season all the planets aligned and Danny Bohn gave the Kernersville, North Carolina crew the ultimate award, the season Modified championship, the first championship for Swisher as an owner or driver.
As we skip to 2015, everyone thought it would be the same lineup. But just a month ago, Bohn announced that he was stepping away from the #53 for the season for personal reasons not related to the team. The frenzy has been on since then with the “who will drive it” questions and many rumors swirling. But after two weeks of talking, this week it was finalized with John Smith stepping into the car for a run at the 2015 title.
“We just started talking a few weeks ago,” said Smith. “Puddin was looking at a truck he was wanting to buy from me and it went from there. They were needing a driver and we (the Grady Tutterow owned machine he drives on the NASCAR Whelen Tour) were only going to run the seven big races at the stadium anyway. So it worked out for me, I’ll be at the stadium full time, on the Whelen tour full time, and with those seven races now out of the equation in Grady’s car, we might run some KOMA Tour races.”
Smith is no stranger to the stadium having run full time for many years starting back in 2000. He is a two time winner of the prestigious “199” and has various other wins. He ran half a season last year before severely breaking his wrist in an accident and hasn’t raced again until this past weekend in the Whelen tour race at Caraway where he finished a respectable third. But how Smith got here is a rare story in itself.
While most drivers go through the ranks to move up to the feature division of their track, Smith took a giant leap into the Modifieds.
“Me and my brother were barely scrapping by racing go carts,” explained Smith. “We got the bright idea to sell all our stuff and buy a modified then by chance, it all fell together. Grady Tutterow came to my brother wanting some decals made and we talked about us buying a modified. His driver at the time was having some health issues and couldn’t race so he gave me a shot. I jumped in and did the best I could and won a 25 lapper in my rookie season at the stadium. The next year we won the 199 and another 100 lapper and the rest is history, we have been together ever since.”
Smith had drove for Swisher in a few races three years ago at Ace Speedway when the track had the “Madhouse Meltdown” for the Bowman Gray drivers so the pair is familiar with each other.
“We eat ice cream every Saturday at the stadium that Puddin makes,” said Smith. “They are a great bunch of people and have some great guys helping them. Along with them, my guys helping, and Danny giving input, we should be tough. I just want to win one race for Puddin, that’s my goal.”
With all the wins Smith has I’d say he is being very modest, he could possibly have multiple wins in 2015. And with the momentum coming off a championship run, the ole’ #53 will be a top runner once more.
