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| When this
Trevis built sprint car was assembled in six days by Dick Hench and his
crew for owner, Gary Wasson, in September of 1971 for one race at
Williams Grove Speedway, no one imagined the impact this car and its
driver, Mitch Smith, would have upon the sport of sprint car racing in
the United States. The race, held on September 25, 1971, was a 40-lap
United States Auto Club sanctioned event featuring the stars and cars of
USAC who, until that date, had dominated the sport. Smith was a talented
and exciting driver but had only a regional reputation. Entering the
race on a temporary USAC permit, Smith proceeded to set fast times
during time trials, win his heat and conquer the entire field of USAC
stars in the feature event. From that day forward, the invincibility of
USAC's sprint car division was no longer a foregone conclusion. This
car, in the hands of its driver, Mitch Smith, was truly a
"foundation shaker".
Following its historic debut in 1971, the car competed at local central Pennsylvania tracks in 1972 and was then sold to Billy Hughes who competed with the car in United Racing Club events throughout the early 70's. It was subsequently sold to central Pennsylvania sprint car ace, Ronnie Rough, who campaigned the car until its retirement. In 1988, the car was removed from storage and restoration completed in 1993. On July 9, 1993, the car was donated to the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing by Ronald Rough's widow, Carol Rough, and her co-owners, Tommy Smith, Barry Camp, Lynn Paxton, Dave Swanger and the Estate of Maynard Yingst, in memory of Ronald Rough and Maynard Yingst. |
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