Bob Gilbertson has picked Paul Smith as the crew chief of his Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters nitro
Funny Car for his return to NHRA competition at the up-coming Carolinas Nationals Sept. 17-20 at
zMAX Dragway @ Concord.
Smith has been involved in nitro drag racing for over 40 years and is regarded as one of the most
savvy crew chiefs on the tour and he's known for being able to get his drivers into the show on
many occasions when the larger funded teams struggled and didn't qualify.
Smith has tuned many drivers to NHRA national event wins including Jeff Arend, Chuck Etchells and
even Bob Gilbertson to his only NHRA victory at Houston in 2000. Smith also drove quite a few
nitro Funny Cars early in his career and although he never won an NHRA national Event as a driver
he was runner-up three times.
Gilbertson, who hasn't been behind the wheel since last years Carolinas Nationals, is pumped up
about getting back on track and re-uniting with his former crew chief.
"Hopefully we can re-create the magic that we had in Houston in 2000," Gilbertson said. "I've
known Paul for many years and he's really like a member of our family and he's the best choice to
get this team qualified and hopefully go some rounds on Sunday and become a spoiler in the points
race."
"I'm very happy that Bob called me," Smith added. "I've known Bob for a long time and he's a real
racer at heart. He's a really good driver, he's won races in the past, he knows what it takes to
win and I hope that I can help him and his team achieve their goal of doing well at his home-town
race in Charlotte."
