March 18, 2025
Pensacola, Florida — Fresh off a top five effort in the 49th Hardee’s Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway, Dustin Smith is gearing up to pilot the famed Grand American Race Cars (GARC) no. 112 in the Sunshine State 200 at Five Flags Speedway on March 23rd. The Mobile, Alabama native made the announcement on Monday shortly after the ASA STARS Tour released the weekend’s official entry list.
From the announcement made on the Dustin Smith Motorsports social media, “We are excited to announce that Dustin Smith will be behind the legendary no. 112 machine of GARC Motorsports for the The Sunshine State 200 ASA Southern Super Series at Five Flags Speedway.”
This came to be after Smith’s primary car, which the team named “Jane Marie” in honor of Smith’s Nana, was retired from competition following a crash in the Clyde Hart Memorial at New Smyrna in February. This left Smith without a Super Late Model in his fleet.
“Our Super car had been good to us for four years,” said Smith. “It was a FURY we bought used that was already one or two years old when we bought it.”
A new FURY chassis is in the works, but won’t be ready for the Smith Motorsports team in time for this week’s race in Pensacola. This led to Smith racing in the Rattler 250 in his Pro Late Model. There, Smith started next to last in the 21 car field, found his way to sixth at the halfway break, and by race’s end was solidly in fourth.
While at South Alabama, Smith struck the deal with Augie Grill, owner of GARC Motorsports. For now, it’s a one race partnership, but the 2024 Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year didn’t rule out future outings in the no. 112.
“The GARC deal really just came about Saturday,” said Smith. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve been in a GARC car. Honestly, I don’t know…this could possibly lead to some more races, but I really just have to play it by ear and see how this weekend goes.”
Timothy Watson piloted the GARC no. 112 last weekend at South Alabama in an effort to gain knowledge from the legendary short track racer. Smith hopes to also take advantage of this opportunity in Pensacola.
“Either way you look at it, the experience I get with Augie in my ear talking to me and pointing out where I could be better on the track is invaluable.”
The ASA STARS National Tour will race round number two of the 2025 campaign on March 23, 2025 at Five Flags Speedway, a companion event to the ASA Southern Super Series and Pensacola’s Blizzard Series.
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Photo: Daniel Vining
Liberty Racing Review 