Paul Smith

Bob Gilbertson has picked Paul Smith as the crew chief of his Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters Funny Car for his return to NHRA competition at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Sept. 17-20 at zMax Dragway.
 
Smith has been involved in nitro drag racing for more than 40 years and is regarded as one of the most savvy crew chiefs on the tour, 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 Gilbertson to his only NHRA victory in 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 year's NHRA Carolinas Nationals, is pumped up about getting back on track and reuniting 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 hometown race in Charlotte."