Smith, who drives his own no. 26 Brad Smith Motorsports-ApplianceZone.com Ford, first landed on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour in 1988, and has been fulltime since the 2001 season, the same year he finished a career-best 13th in driver points.

"Two-hundred starts are about longevity, and you can't do that in a team sport like this without a great supporting crew," said Smith. "I never would have made it nearly this far without the support of my brother, Jeff, or the support of my dad, Marv. Both of them have spent significant time and resources to help me pursue my racing dream. We've spent many late nights together thrashing to get cars ready. And we've had to tap NBD (National Bank of Dad) on occasion to get through some really rough spots."

Smith, currently 13th in driver points, finished a career-best 12th three times in races at Winchester, Salem and Pocono.

"We've been blessed with great help over the years, and I just can't stress enough how much I appreciate it."

Smith credits UNOH students and full-time crew-members Andy Quillan, Tony Hites and Shane Summerfield for keeping the team going this year. Long-time crew member Dave DeFord and Earl "Uncle Buck" Hinkle make up the balance of the traveling crew. "Dave has been with us for quite a while now and is our Spotter on race day. Uncle Buck was a great addition to this year's team. He manages the team when I'm at meetings and off taking care of business."   

Smith also says his two main sponsors this year have made significant contributions to his continued success. "We wouldn't be racing this year without ApplianceZone.com and Gene Patient Fabrication, plain and simple. ApplianceZone.com is the first major sponsor we've had in our years of racing and they have been wonderful to work with. They're a family business just like us and I can't say nearly enough about the contribution they've made to our efforts. I am really looking forward to working with them again next year and expect to have a breakout season with them.

"Gene Patient has also helped us tremendously by working on our bodies and front clips. He's a top-notch guy to work with. He works around our financial & timing issues and just makes things work. We're very happy with his work or we wouldn't have three cars in his shop right now," quipped Smith.

Looking back, Smith has many great memories. "I've been really fortunate to have raced with some of the ARCA legends over the past 20 years. ARCA was really fun when Bob Schacht, Big Bill Venturini, Lee Raymond, Bob Brevak, and Grant Adcox were racing. We had some really entertaining drivers' meetings back then. I also watched as Tim Steele came in and dominated the series for about five years and then Frank Kimmel for the past ten years. Jack Bowsher and James Hylton are men of few words but significant knowledge. When they take you aside and tell you that you are doing the right thing it makes you damned proud of your efforts. Acknowledgement from gentlemen of that stature is huge. It fuels our efforts. I truly miss Jack.

"Our efforts at the track have also been significantly influenced by our association with Darrell Basham Racing. We share information, components, and pit crews. Darrell also loaned us a car for last year's Talladega race and this year's Daytona race. If it weren't for that we would have missed those races, fell off the A-Plan, and likely been out of racing. That is one helluva generous and sportsmanlike gesture since I am usually chasing Darrell in the point's race at the end of the year."

A race team is also made up of many part-time contributors and Smith is thankful for their contributions also. "I have my Eastern Connection that goes to the "eastern" races like Pocono, Lake Erie, Toledo, South Boston, etc.. That group consists of Wayne Kintz, Brian Stuhldreher, Brian Thompson and Dennis Lowery. Wayne is the Crew Chief at those races and has contributed greatly to our team. We have a great time together and have had a few good runs at those tracks." Smith also credits past crew members Aaron Apt,  Klaus Luehrs, and Rusty Adams for past contributions. "Although they are no longer traveling to races with us, their past contributions have enabled us to get where we are today."

To sum up his career Smith said, "I've had a great time doing the ARCA RE/MAX Series. I've met some of the greatest people in the world through racing. Although it has been a tough deal, I wouldn't trade our experiences for anything. I hope to get another 200 starts before I retire."

Smith is also a graduate of Central Michigan University with a Master's degree in Business Administration, and also holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Suffield University.