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The day he wondered would ever come finally did.

Will Smith captured his first national event victory Sunday, driving the Samsel Family injected-nitro dragster to the Top Alcohol Dragster title at the IHRA Outlaw Nitro event at Darana Dragway. The event was the second of five scheduled IHRA races for 2025.

Smith, a protégé of the late Alabama drag racing legend Bill Mullins, has spent years working through the sport’s ranks while earning licenses in both nitro and alcohol divisions. His first event of the season came in Columbus, Ohio, where he drove Luigi Novelli’s Top Fuel dragster.

“This has been a long journey, and there were days I wondered if it would ever happen,” Smith said. “When you surround yourself with good people, a great team and great marketing partners, you’re bound to succeed. That’s what we did this weekend.”

Smith credited car owners Robin, Tony and Kole Samsel for providing the opportunity. “We came in with one goal, as we always do, and that goal is to win,” he said. “The Samsels gave me a chance to race with them in Milan, and that was our mission — to go there and win, and we did.”

The dragster Smith drove was the same car Jamie Noonan has competed with in national events this season. Smith also drove the car twice in Gainesville at the Baby Gators in 2022, winning both events. “I love that race car,” he said.

Smith said winning his first national event felt surreal. “It still hasn’t really sunk in,” he said. “I have a sign in my living room that says, ‘When you feel like quitting, remember why you started.’ It’s been a long journey, and there were times I had my doubts, but I never gave up.”

Smith acknowledged the financial challenges of competing in drag racing. “You never know when your next race is going to be,” he said. “Funding has been a struggle for me for quite some time, so when you do get a chance, you have to give it 110 percent.”

He expressed hope that his first win will lead to more. “I hope it’s true that once you win your first one, they all fall into place,” Smith said. “Hopefully there are more opportunities to get behind the wheel.”

Smith also reflected on Mullins, who raced Top Fuel in the 1980s. “When I got out of the car and we went to the winner’s circle, I first thought of Bill,” Smith said. “I wish I could have called him and told him about the victory. I know he’d be proud.”

Mullins won in every class he competed in, and Smith said he hopes to follow the same path. “I’m trying to do the same thing, but I’ve got a lot of classes and no money,” he said.

Smith drove Top Fuel at the Columbus event but switched back to Top Alcohol Dragster in Milan. “I just love drag racing,” he said. “If it’s burning nitro, I want to drive it.”

He noted the difference between driving the two cars. “The first run we came off the trailer and went 5.23, which was a stellar run,” Smith said. “It felt slow because I wasn’t in a Top Fuel car, but when I saw the timeslip, I realized how good it was.”

Smith said driving for Novelli and working with his team this year helped him gain valuable laps in Top Fuel. He also obtained his Funny Car license with Paul Smith. “Going back to A-Fuel after that definitely slowed everything down,” he said.

Every run, Smith said, is a learning experience. “Good, bad or whatever, I try to take something away from each lap,” he said. “I learned a few things this past week and made a couple of mistakes that I’ll fix next time.”

Smith is the marketing director for the Professional Drag Racing Association. After his win, he returned to work at U.S. Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan, where the PDRA is racing this weekend.

“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing since Sunday,” Smith said. “People at the track have congratulated me, and it’s been cool to hear from childhood heroes like Tim Grose, Darrell Gwynn and Larry Morgan.”

Smith said seeing Larry Morgan at the top end of the track after his victory was especially meaningful. “That meant a lot to me,” he said.

“I’m still on cloud nine, but now it’s back to work. I love drag racing, and I’m just on the other side of the fence this weekend doing my job to help pay the bills.”

By Bobby Bennett / CompetitionPlus.com