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"I am not retiring. My first Wally will just have to wait a year or two." – Rhonda Hartman-Smith

Top Fuel driver Rhonda Hartman-Smith has announced that she will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the NHRA circuit with the conclusion of the 40th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

"With my 30th birthday coming up, I have decided to take the 2005 season off to focus on our family," Hartman-Smith said. "It's been a tough decision but with the hectic schedule we lead and having our daughter Megan in kindergartner full-time, it was one that needed to be made. It is important to me that my family comes first and it will be easier juggling schedules with one parent who can be a little more flexible with their time."

Hartman-Smith, who has participated on the NHRA circuit as a Top Fuel pilot since 1997, has achieved a number of impressive professional accomplishments throughout her driving career. In 2001, she celebrated her first finish NHRA top 10 finish in the championship points standings. Within the 2002 season, Hartman-Smith and her husband John Smith, a fellow Top Fuel driver, not only made history as the first and only couple to finish in the top 10 in a professional category, but also became the first professional husband-and-wife duo to qualify at the same NHRA race.

Once again records were broken in 2003 when Hartman-Smith became the quickest female on earth with her 4.523-second pass at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Chicago.

Rhonda Hartman-Smith will be missed. Racers Edge Photography

"As much as I am disappointed that I have yet to win an NHRA event, I am equally as proud of all of our accomplishments as a team," Hartman-Smith said. "We have fielded a terrific two-car team that's finished in the top 10 for the past three seasons, and as a couple John and I have made history several times. My first Wally will just have to wait a year or two."

Although she is taking time off for her family, Hartman-Smith hasn't totally given up on the idea of driving.

"I am absolutely not completely retiring," Hartman-Smith said. "With this time off we will just be able to regroup and concentrate on me coming back bigger and better than ever."

For now, Smith will be the primary driver of the Hartman Motorsports Top Fuel dragster. While the team did not renew their contract for the 2005 season with Honeywell due to budget concerns, they are planning on making a sponsorship announcement for Smith soon.

"We did not renew with Honeywell (Fram/Prestone/Autolite) for the 2005 season," Hartman-Smith said. "Their allocated budget has made it very tough for us to run a two-car team. I feel we did an excellent job for what we were given, but we need more in order to move up to the next level and become a competitive top-five car. That is why we feel it is necessary to explore other opportunities right now and focus on one car for the 2005 season that John will be piloting."

This story is copyright 2004 National Hot Rod Association. It may not be reprinted or retransmitted in any form without the express written permission of NHRA.com.