Driving for an NHRA Top Fuel Dragster team is a dream for racers both young and old, but few can put in, or maybe even comprehend, the work and sacrifices required to make that dream a reality. Will Smith, however, could write a textbook on what it takes to go from Jr. Dragsters to Top Fuel as a racer with a dream, but without the exorbitant funding required for such a feat.
Smith got his start in Jr. Dragsters at just nine years old. From there, he drove friends’ bracket cars any chance he could get, volunteered on Pro Mod teams, and did whatever he could to stay behind the wheel. While he appreciated these opportunities, he always had his heart set on driving a Top Fuel dragster or Funny Car. It’s no secret that racing is expensive at any level, let alone the highest level in existence, and unfortunately, the financial backing simply wasn’t there.
That didn’t stop Smith. He sold everything he could, including his own race car and trailer, and took the deep dive into his dream of getting his Top Fuel license. Which, with Larry Dixon, he achieved in 2022, debuting at the Indianapolis US Nationals that same year, followed by two more events in 2023. Smith continued driving Top Fuel Dragsters for five events through 2025, in addition to the Top Fuel Alcohol Dragster for the Samsel and Noonan team, bringing home his first Top Alcohol Dragster win at the IHRA national event in Milan, Michigan. In the fall of 2025, he finished out the licensing process for Funny Car, making his debut at the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series at GALOT Motorsports Park in September, driving for Herzhauser Racing.
When he wasn’t racing, Smith was doing whatever it took to get back in the seat. As soon as he secured the funding and marketing partners for a race, he was on track to live his dream for the weekend. The second he returned home, he was back to work putting together marketing partners for the next one, spending months making the arrangements to get to one race.
During the off-season, Smith got the text every aspiring professional driver dreams of. Randy Gloede had invited him to drive for the legendary SCAG Racing Team. They discussed the opportunity, and it was an easy decision to move forward down this path. “This is where I wanted to be and needed to be”, Smith said, describing the immediate feeling of belonging he felt with the team.
Smith went on to praise the talent, people, and resources of the team as second to none. SCAG Racing maintains core values that coincide with his own, as a proud American racing within a team and alongside brands with qualities he wants his name attached to. There will be some learning curves, adjusting to being a full-time driver with a new crew, not having to worry and grind to get to the next event. “We have a super-experienced crew, led by Glen Huszar and Scott Okuhara, behind us to support us. I’m looking forward to working with such talented individuals,” he said.
“I am overwhelmed with support from friends, family, racers and people I don’t know who have reached out with words of encouragement,” Smith went on to describe, “I want to be an inspiration for everyone else to chase their dreams. Hopefully it’s in racing but even if it’s not, have the courage to pursue it and prove that the underdog can still make it happen.”. Through this entire journey, from juniors to Top Fuel, Smith states that it’s very rewarding to have a positive impact on somebody else’s life.
From Juniors to Top Fuel, Will Smith has shown us that through determination and sacrifice, our dreams may become a reality, and in 2026, Smith will be on the race track with SCAG Racing, showing us what he can do.
You might also like
Fitting Fundimentals And How Koul Tools Makes Plumbing A Project Vehicle Much Easier
How to assemble hoses correctly, avoid common mistakes, and learn proven shop tips from Koul Tools inventor Richard Raczuk.
