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Gainesville, FL (March 9, 2025):  Will Smith – not that Will Smith – added another line item to his resume: Funny Car driver. 

Smith made his pro debut two years ago at the NHRA U.S. Nationals driving a Top Fuel dragster fielded by Larry Dixon. The marketing and advertising sales director of the PDRA had long desired the opportunity to acquire his crossover license into Funny Car.

“I’m a die-hard drag racer, man. I eat, sleep, and breathe it,” Smith said. “I love nitro racing, love funny cars, love dragsters – love it all. It’s been a bucket-list thing. But my goal from day one is to be as versatile as possible for any opportunities that may come about. I want to make a living at drag racing and that’s hard to do these days, but I’m working hard at it and, man, just had to stand on the gas in it.”

Even with a license in the quicker Top Fuel dragster, Smith had to cross-license – so he turned to another nitro veteran to earn his Funny Car permit. He went to Funny Car veteran Paul Smith (no relation) to help him get through the experience.

“What’s crazy is I never even sat in a Funny Car until the morning of and never had the body down on it until we went to the staging lanes,” Will Smith revealed. “But, man, I felt right at home. …

“A lot of people suggested Paul, and I’ve known Bodie (Paul’s son, John) and those guys for a while, and they’re great people and Paul’s got a good car and that thing will go down a dirt road. And he’s a great teacher. I’ve always known that and he’s a great guy. Really gotten to know him over the last couple of years and it just made sense to do it. He’s a great teacher and, man, we had some fun and I learned a lot and had a great time.”

Smith’s license crossover was completed when he ran a 4.17 at 310 on his first full run. He made two other runs in the crossover process. 

“The minimum requirement is a half-track run in two full runs, and it was straight down the track. We’d come back and what was funny was Paul’s like, ‘Man, it ain’t never run 310 before.’ 

“I was like, ‘Wow.’ But, man, when that cannon come in, the clutch locked up out the back, man, that thing just … like it took off again and set you back and your vision’s as black as it could be with clutch dust. And it don’t get any cooler than that. I hope I can find a way to experience it more. That’s the ultimate goal.”  

John Smith and Del Worsham signed off on Smith’s license. Will Smith said the three sponsors that made this possible for him were Greenbrier Excavating & Paving (Alan O’Brien), Robert A Tull Inc (Tony Tull) and SP Tools USA.

On that same day, Julie Nataas attempted to earn her crossover Funny Car license. She still needed one run, but has already run as quick as a 3.94.  

By Bobby Bennett / CompetitionPlus.com