Brad Smith earns second career top-10 finish

By Colby Evans

Brad Smith, a staple of the ARCA Menards Series since 1988, got his second career Top-10 finish at Berlin this past weekend. It was Brad’s 392nd start in the series. Smith, who has been an owner-driver for nearly 99 percent of his driving career, had never had the equipment to compete with the big league teams and primarily ran at the back of the field.

Smith had driven for five different manufacturers, using 15 different numbers and for five different owners, but still couldn’t get a ride with a competitive team. Running without sufficient sponsorship and solid equipment, it hurt Smith’s ability to push his equipment to what it was really capable of.

By 2020, after 32 years in ARCA, Smith had only secured a best finish of 12th, and it seemed like it would never happen until the Winchester 2020 ARCA race, where he finishing 9th.

In a post-race interview afterwards Smith said “For our team this is definitely a win, good to finally have that top 10 in my record book, just a good day for us.”

The question by fans was “Will it happen again?”, could Brad Smith get another Top-10. That question was finally answered this past weekend in Berlin. 17 cars were entered, Smith started 16th and through attrition and outlasting the start and parks, Smith was able to climb his way up to 10th place.

Although he failed to finish, Smith had still accumulated his second top finish of his career.

Brad Smith will continue to be the ultimate underdog of the ARCA Menards Series and will be cheered on by many to get more Top-10 finishes, a Top-5 finish, and one day a win if possible.