MESQUITE, Texas (Jan. 6, 2023) – Smiley’s Racing Products marks its 55th year of serving the racing community and its sixth season as title sponsor of IMCA’s Southern SportMod division in 2023.
The Mesquite, Texas, high-performance parts manufacturer and distributor again provides a portion of the $9,500 point fund to be paid to top 15 drivers in national Southern SportMod standings while continuing an extensive awards program for drivers in six sanctioned divisions.
“What I like best about IMCA is that they are a rock solid organization and they try really hard to keep the cost of racing down,” said Smiley’s owner Tom Lorenz. “I’ve known Kathy Root and Brett Root for years and they have done a great job running IMCA.”
“IMCA is all about the grassroots racer and Smiley’s Racing Products is the same way. We are a good combination and we complement each other,” he added. “IMCA is good for all racers, whether they compete at sanctioned tracks or not, because they help regulate the cost of racing. I have a lot of respect for Brett and the entire organization.”
Also the home of Hoosier Tire Southwest, Smiley’s is part of national decal programs for Southern and Northern SportMods and RaceSaver Sprint Cars and drivers in all three divisions must display two Smiley’s logos on their race cars to be eligible for year-end awards.
The 19-year IMCA sponsor gives $50 gift cards to top 10 drivers in national Southern SportMod and Mach-1 Sport Compact point standings, and in the GRT Race Cars South Central Region for IMCA Modifieds, EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Big Daddy Race Cars Southern Region for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.
Fifty dollar gift cards also go to IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car drivers winning track or series titles.
Point fund checks and gift cards will be presented during the national awards banquet or mailed beginning in December from the IMCA home office.
Hard chargers in Modified, Late Model, Stock Car, Hobby Stock, Northern SportMod and Sport Compact main events at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, and in the RaceSaver Nationals main event all receive $100 gift cards.
Twenty-five dollar gift cards will be awarded to hard luck and mystery position drivers in those events as well.
Gift cards can be redeemed at any Smiley’s location, in Mesquite, Kennedale, The Woodlands, Sherman and in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Smiley’s hosts its annual swap meet in the store parking lot at Mesquite on Saturday, Jan. 28, the final day of the traditional pre-season sales event.
“It’s awesome. We have done a pre-season sale every year since 1994, and several years ago we decided to combine the sale and swap meet on the same weekend,” Lorenz explained. “People can come in and sell stuff and meet with our vendors. We’ll cook up and serve 500 hot dogs during the day plus we’ll have a taco bar inside.”
“It’s a big event, kind of like our Boone, Iowa, Super Nationals,” he continued. “There’s not anything in the store that’s not on sale and drivers can talk to company reps about anything they need to. “The pre-season sale and swap meet is good for racers, it’s good for us and it’s been really, really successful for a long time.”
Information about Smiley’s products is available at the www.smileysracing.com website, on Facebook or by calling 866 959-7223.
“Fifty-five years in business is a great milestone and I am proud we can continue to call Smiley’s an IMCA marketing partner,” commented IMCA Marketing Integration and Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm. “They are an asset for all divisions, especially the Southern SportMods. We are looking forward to a great 2023 with Smiley’s and wish them the best in their 55th year of business.”