R.I.P. GN Driver Wayne Smith - Advance, NC

I just saw a note from new member, L.Kent Cope to Johnny Mallonee that we lost former Grand National driver Wayne Smith of Advance, NC last week at age 76 as the result of a traffic accident.

Wayne started 123 Grand National races between 1965-1972. Wayne was one of the handful of independent Chevy drivers that I and my buddies cheered for when Chrysler pulled out leaving the field to factory Fords and independent Chevys in 1965. R.I.P. Wayne.

Sorry to hear. RIPWayne.

Sad news indeed. My sincere condolences to his family and friends and may he rest in peace.

I will miss Wayne calling mefrom time to time. Great guy. Prayers are with his family. RIP

Thanks Dave, for posting. RIP Mr. Smith.

God bless his family and his friends. He was a stalwart driver when NASCAR needed guys to make a race field. I remember him fondly.

Sorry to hear the news. My prayers go to his family.

My old racing buddy, Frank in Pennsylvania sent me a note about the Wayne Smith car in the photo. Perhaps Richmonders Dickie Gouldman, Ray Lamm, Dennis Garrett or Woody Delbridge remember this:

I recall that white '65 Chevy (later re-skinned a bit to pass for a '66) ended up with Larry Manning, who drove it at Southside and Langley while it was still GN-eligible, such was the difference in cost of cars 50 years ago.

I also remember some mumbling at the races that there was a dispute between Larry and Wayne about whether the car had been paid for, but that's a story I never checked out. It became #66 when it moved from Advance to Richmond.

Maybe it'll turn up out in the woods somewhere one day like Worth McMillion's Pontiac.

I can remember seeing Wayne's #38 Chevrolet setting at what had to be a 1 car garage next to a country store in Farmington, NC (on the other side of I-40 from Advance). And from there, he raced at the top level. Later on, Wayne's Davie Truckers softball team was the North Carolina Class A State Champions.

Wayne only used 2 number as a independent Nascar driver. As you see, he started with number 38 and ended his career with number 33. It was so bizarre that his good friend, Richard Childress, had his grandson in car number 33 that won the Charlotte Xfinity race. Wayne was a great neighbor, and helped his church, friends, and others in many times of need. I'll really miss him, even if he wasn't a Dale, Tim, or Fireball.

Dave, all this is interesting to hear. I had never heard this bit of Wayne's history before. I do know that his brother, Willie, told me his last car had been sold. Thanks for sharing your information. He sorta followed AJ Foyt in that he had a love for horses after his Nascar racing ended.

Number 38 had a somewhat infamous NASCAR heritage. That was the number on Gwyn Staley's Julian Petty Chevy convertible when he was killed at Richmond in 1958.

Excerpted from Getty Images

Archie Smith DRIVER STATS
Born: January 1, 1932
Home: Denton, NC
http://www.racing-reference.info/driver/Archie_Smith

Comments on Archie Smith:
1. Breaker posted: 09.30.2013 - 9:46 pm
Believed to be the last living driver (as of 2/12/2012) from the first "Strictly Stock" race at Charlotte in 1949.
https://sites.google.com/site/memoryyear/denton-nc-stuff/nascar-194...
2. Anonymous posted: 11.04.2014 - 6:25 am
Born: Jan 1, 1932

ARCHIE SMITH AGE 17 DROVE 1 YEAR (1949) IN 2 RACES FOR FRANK SMITH.
http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=smithar01&trk=t0&amp...

WHO IS FRANK SMITH ?

WHAT RELATIONSHIP TO ARCHIE SMITH ?

http://www.racing-reference.info/owner/Frank_Smith
http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/smithfr01/1949/W
============================================================
Archie Smith Ownership stats
Born:
Home: Denton, NC

WHO IS ARCHIE SMITH ?
http://www.racing-reference.info/owner/Archie_Smith

WHAT RELATIONSHIP TO JACK SMITH ?
JACK SMITH DROVE 1 YEAR (1964) FOR ARCHIE SMITH.
1964 JACK SMITH DROVE #47 PLYMOUTH IN 3 RACES FOR ARCHIE SMITH.
http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/smithja01/1964/W

WHAT RELATIONSHIP TO WAYNE SMITH ?

WAYNE SMITH DROVE 5 YEARS (1965-1969) IN 108 RACES FOR ARCHIE SMITH.

1965 WAYNE SMITH DROVE # 38 CHEVY IN 25 RACES FOR ARCHIE SMITH.
http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/smithwa01/1965/W

1966 WAYNE SMITH DROVE # 38 CHEVY IN 23 RACES FOR ARCHIE SMITH.
http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/smithwa01/1966/W

1967 WAYNE SMITH DROVE # 38 CHEVY IN 27 RACES FOR ARCHIE SMITH.
http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/smithwa01/1967/W

1968 WAYNE SMITH DROVE # 38 CHEVY IN 17 RACES FOR ARCHIE SMITH.
http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/smithwa01/1968/W

DNQs or WDs
1968 RACE #4 Daytona DNQ #38 (Archie Smith) Chevrolet

1969 WAYNE SMITH DROVE #38 CHEVY (1 RACE)/ #33 CHEVY (LAST 15 RACES) = 16 RACES FOR ARCHIE SMITH.
http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/smithwa01/1969/W

DNQs or WDs
1969 RACE #41 Darlington DNQ #33 (Wayne Smith) Chevrolet
1969 RACE #44 Talladega DNQ #33 (Wayne Smith) Chevrolet

FOR A LONG TIME THE JOKE WAS NO INDY DRIVERS WITH LAST NAME "SMITH" EVER RACED INDY 500!!
LOOK LIKE NASCAR HAD ALL THE RACE DRIVERS WITH THE LAST NAME "SMITH" !!

Thanks for any information or photos posted.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.USA

Wow man. I am so sorry to hear this and I am in NC. Best wishes to the family and may God bless you.