New Sponsor, New Power Plant, New Season!

STOCKBRIDGE, GA - The 2016 racing season is really looking to be a positive one for Gabie Smith and Snake Doctor Racing. With a new more powerful engine from H5R Motorsports, the addition of our new marketing partner Viperizer Racing for the 2016-2017 seasons and the continued support from Cargo Pal, the team is ready for the racing season. 

On April 27, Gabie and Snake Doctor Racing entered into a marketing agreement with Viperizer Racing for the 2016-2017 racing seasons.

Viperizer Racing, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the preferred discount Jr. Dragster parts & accessories powerhouse. Viperizer, the presenting sponsor of the NHRA JDRL Eastern Conference Finals held in Bristol Tennessee, offers thousands of parts at guaranteed lowest prices with a 100% hassle free return policy.

Gabie starts 2015 with a runner-up finish

REYNOLDS, GA —Snake Doctor Racing driver Gabie Smith started the 2015 racing season with a great driving performance, winning four rounds of competition on Saturday at Silver Dollar Raceway en route to a runner up finish.

Even though her dragster wasn't running very consistently, clocking elapsed times of 12.38 and 12.33 in the first two rounds, then slowing to 12.46 and then 12.47 in the semi-final round, Smith was still able to outlast many veteran drivers ending with a final round appearance. It was Gabie’s first final round appearance since September 7, 2013.

There was plenty of support cheering her on including family and friends and her Science Teacher from school. “When I saw my win light come on I was screaming so loud in my car I am surprised the people in the stands couldn’t hear me!”, said an excited Smith following the semi-final round.

This is Gabie Smith’s first final round in the 10-12 age class, and second overall. Her first final round was in the 8-9 age bracket.

Next on Snake Doctor Racing’s 2015 racing schedule is the Scenic City Thunder and Nostalgia Drags, April 25, 2015.

Memories From the Strip - Stay Away From Hog Wire Fences

This past weekend, my family and I enjoyed a trip down memory lane as we attended the Warner Robins Dragway Reunion. We all met at the starting line and walked the track listening to stories of the good old days. It's a shame to see one of my favorite tracks of all time sitting in the woods in ruins but we had a wonderful time reminiscing.  The reunion ended with a race at Silver Dollar Raceway. While walking through the pits I noticed this replica of Richard Petty's Plymouth Barracuda Drag Car. The car is owned by Mike Brooks and is a really sharp car. As I stood there looking at this car and speaking with the owner, I remembered the day of Richard Petty's accident in Dallas, Georgia.



In 1965, some friends and I were watching drag racing at Southeastern International Dragway, located in Dallas, Georgia. There were a lot of race cars and spectators there.  There must of been around 20,000 people there that day. It was Sunday, February 28th, and Richard Petty in his Plymouth Barracuda was match racing against Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick in his Pontiac GTO.

I was standing on the left side of the track, which I believe was the pits at that time. I don't know if the cars were called Funny Cars as of yet, Petty's car was metal with working doors, they might have been classed as S/FX or A/FX still, I'm not sure. When they left the starting line, I would say about 300 feet out, Petty's car broke the front left spindle sending the car into an immediate left turn. There was a small dirt embankment on the edge of the track with a hog wire fence like most tracks had back then, not much protection to say the least. When Richard's car hit the embankment, it launched his car into the air like a ramp. I was propped up with my hand on someones motorcycle standing on my toes trying to see over the crowd which must have been 5 or more people thick.  I heard a strange noise and saw a big blue flash in the air, it was Petty's car coming down on us. Just as I stepped away, his car plowed that motorcycle with a few people into the ground. I was the first person to get to Petty's door handle when someone yelled to get away from the car, "It's going to explode", they said. The car didn't explode, Richard got out of the car with minor injuries thankfully.

There were quite a few people laying on the ground bleeding and screaming. An 8 year old boy was sitting on his father's shoulders and was hit by the front wheel that had broken off of Petty's car and was killed. It was one of those days I will never forget!

That is why after I met my girlfriend, who is now my wife, we started standing as close to the starting line as possible. Especially at tracks with hog wire fences!

My Racing Experience at the 2014 Atlanta $10,000 Nostalgia Drag Races and Car Show

12th Annual Atlanta $10,000
Nostalgia Drag Races

We traveled out of town to the one and only Atlanta Dragway to compete in the Atlanta $10,000 Nostalgia Drag Races and Car Show. I was so excited to be entered into this race because it was my last race of the season and I had never raced at Atlanta Dragway before! 

When we arrived at the track, the weather turned really bad and quickly began to rain. We ended up having a five hour delay in getting the race started! After a few hours of rain, it finally cleared and we headed for tech inspection

After the sun came out and the track was dry, qualifying runs began. The bigger cars had to run before the Jr Dragsters to put some heat into the track. The track announcer called us to the staging lanes for our first pass of the day around 2:00 pm so I checked the air pressure in the tires and got all of the equipment together and in the car. As soon as we got to the lanes I jumped in the car and got all of my equipment on. At Atlanta Dragway they don’t play, they are ready for us to get on the track and GO!  That’s one of the reasons why I love that track.

On my first pass, the car ran well and I cut a good light so I was really pumped for the rest of the day! After about 30-45 minutes, we made our second session run. I just have to say that I LOVE racing!!! 

On the second time pass, I cut another awesome light and was feeling pretty good about the first round! I had never raced at night and was looking forward to another new experience.

While waiting for eliminations to start, I feel asleep in my Snake Doctor Racing, Jr Dragster, which is very comfortable. After a nap and a quick bite to eat I was ready to go.  When we were called for the first round, I felt a little nervous but got myself in the zone quickly and was ready to battle! 

In the first round, I cut a better light than the other driver and crossed the finish line first but with the night air and the track cooling off, I ended up breaking out and losing the round. I was disappointed with not winning the round but it was okay, I had a wonderful day and experienced a lot.

Check out some highlights from the Atlanta $10,000

Race Day!

It was an awesome day today at Silver Dollar Raceway. It was also a little weird because my sister, mom, and meemaw were not able to make it to the track today.

We arrived at the track around 11:30 this morning. When we first got there we unloaded the car and everything and I got dressed in my fire suit. It was almost time for session one of time trials so we loaded up the car and took it to the staging lanes!

When it was our turn to make a run, I had a little misunderstanding. The tree was a little weird, the pre-stage light was off and only the stage light was on in my lane. So I just went ahead and made my run down the dragstrip. When we made it back to the pits, my papa told me that I had "Deep Staged". I had never rolled in to stage that deep before and I tripped the red light but we still ran 12.64.  Thankfully, it wasn't an elimination round!

There isn't much time between the two time trial session we get so we went ahead and got the car prepared for session two. This time around, I did everything I was supposed to do. I went down the track and my reaction time was the best one yet, an 020 light! I was so happy with myself!

While we were in the staging lanes for the first round of eliminations, a track official announced that there was an odd number of cars entered in today's race so there would be a bye-run. The first round bye-run is based on which driver had the quickest reaction time during the two time trial sessions. My .020 reaction time in session two earned me the first round bye-run and I was even happier!

     I was last to run in my class in the first round, because of course, like I told you I got the by pass! I made a solid run and had a great reaction time again! My reaction time was .029! I was so excited for the next round! Once again we went to the lanes for the second round! My opponent in the second round was another girl who was running in the 8.90's, so I knew I would be leaving the starting line first and she was going to have to run me down for the win! Unfortunately I redlighted and my day was over. It"s not the best feeling in the world but it's not the worst either.

Like my whole family says, a perfect driver never has perfect lights!

Thanks Tractor Supply!

It shouldn’t be a big deal to just go and buy a trailer for the Pit Buggy, right? Wrong! We purchased our buggy, a Trail Wagon Runabout from Tractor Supply a couple of weeks ago and can’t wait to get to use it at the track soon. When we arrived to take the trailer home, it turns out the ball on the hitch of the truck was so tight it took 4 men almost 40 minutes to remove the ball and change it. Thankfully, the guys at Tractor Supply were more than helpful and we were able to finally bring the trailer home. Thanks again Tractor Supply-McDonough!

Our New Pit Buggy

We picked up the "Pit Buggy", a Trail Wagon Runabout from Tractor Supply today.

Before we knew it we had some trouble and confusion. First of all, it is extremely heavy compared to the pit bike and the four wheeler that we are used to using at the track. It has a centrifugal clutch so we were sure the emergency brake was stuck!

Turns out, we are not used to having to give that much pedal to something to make it move, if you know what I mean! We really love it now that we know we aren't destroying it! It's going to be great to have this season!

First Race of the Season

After a really strong showing in today's Jr Dragster eliminations, Gabie Smith and Snake Doctor Racing exit in round 3. To start the season off this strong gives the team something to build on and a lot to look forward too.
Thanks everyone for your support! See you back at the track on March 29th!

Gabie Smith's First Day of Competition!

Today was Gabie's first day at the track in the new Snake Doctor Racing Junior Dragster! We did our usual drive out to Silver Dollar Raceway by meeting at our usual spot, The RaceTrac on Bruton Smith Parkway, for gas and coffee.  When we came out of the store there was a small crowd of kids and parents looking at Gabie's dragster. It was a nice way to start an amazing first day at the dragstrip!

Once we got to the track, we realized we really didn't feel all that prepared.  We have never raced in the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League, so we kind of felt out of place and not sure what to expect in our first outing with the new car.  This would also be the first time Gabie would be making full length full powered passes down the dragstrip so we were all a little anxious! Well, everyone was anxious except Gabie.  

Today was not a testing and tuning day at the race track.  It was one of the points races of the Summit Jr Dragster Racing Series, so we only had two opportunities to make solid runs down the race track to get an idea of what the new car and driver would do.  

We arrived a the race track a little later today than we normally like.  We prefer to allow enough time before the first time run to be a able to comfortably get the car ready, walk the track, etc.  Not today!  As soon as we got to the track we had to unload the car, get through tech in, and get to the staging lanes for the first scheduled run for the Jr Dragster classes.  Nerves were on edge and we made some mistakes as a team but not Gabie.  Somehow, we left one of her arm restraints back in our pit area but thought we dropped it on the way to the staging lanes.  Gabie stayed focused and did not let her nerves or the situation rattle her at all.

We hadn't given much thought to entering eliminations because we were there to make as many shake down runs as we could and just hope it all went well.  After two great passes, the team decided to go ahead and enter eliminations. Win or loose, we knew we would atleast get another run down the track to have more information on the car and driver. Plus, Gabie was really wanting to race.


Gabie was calm, cool and collected in the staging lanes waiting for the first round of eliminations. After the burnouts were complete and both cars were staged, we all watched and waited to see who's win light would come on and what a surprise! Gabie had won her first ever round of eliminations in her first race.  Everyone went crazy on the starting line when her win light came on!  

She rode on the front of the tow cart on the trip back to the pits with all smiles.  Gabie even got a little celebrity treatment when she got back to the pits.  There were a couple of people there to get a photo of her.

Even though we exited eliminations in round 2, today was an amazing day for Gabie Smith and Snake Doctor Racing.  

We feel extremely excited about what the 2013 season has in store for us!

Our New Addition Arrives at Snake Doctor Racing

Our new addition to Snake Doctor Racing was delivered today and we are so excited to get started on getting it ready to take to the track.  The dragster was delivered early in the day today so Gabie didn't get to see it until she got home from school.  As soon as she got home she couldn't wait to go see it and sit in it.  

We are going to have a few minor adjustments to make to the driver's area of the car before she is properly fitted for safety and her driving style needs.  The car is really a beautiful car and we couldn't be more excited about what this season has to offer!

We Bought the Jr Dragster Today!

We have been searching for the right Junior Dragster for Gabie for quite sometime now. After testing many times in other people's cars, we knew the time was right for her to begin her Junior Drag Racing career and needed a car of her own. A friend of ours had told us of a very nice up to date Jr Dragster for sale around the Gay, Georgia, area and once we saw a photo of it we knew it might be the one. Feeling excited, we drove out to see the dragster. 

Gabie immediately fell in love with it. She fit perfectly in the seat and felt comfortable with the steering and all that's required of her to drive it.  With the car being current on all of the requirements it was the car for us!

Gabie really enjoyed sitting in the car especially when they fired the engine!  The new "Snake Doctor Racing" Junior Dragster runs as amazing as it looks too.  This is going to be a new and wonderful experience this season.  The car will be delivered to our shop on Thursday!