It wasn't the iconic wrenches of "Tricky" Ricky Warner, the do-it-all brains of Aaron Reutzel, or the new kid on the block in Tye Wolfgang, but a father-in-law who was just one phone call away that took June's Cometic Gasket Crew Chief of the Month Award with Kubota High Limit Racing.
Thanks to a surging Tanner Thorson, who has turned the Rod Gross Motorsports No. 88 team into one of the fastest-rising operations in the country, none other than Stevie Smith has been credited with the award and $500 bonus in June. Yes, that Stevie Smith.
Although his father-in-law actually didn't attend any of the six races this month, "The Black Bandit" was always on the other end of the phone offering guidance, suggestions, and thoughts from home. It's the latest notch in the belt for Smith, who has already earned an induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame for his legendary driving career and then built an industry-trusted business from the ground up with Smith Titanium.
Never finishing worse than sixth in six races, Thorson has jumped from tenth to almost-sixth in the championship standings as he remains on the verge of his first-career win on a nightly basis at this point. He was on the podium both nights in Wisconsin and contended for the lead in all three races at Lucas Oil Speedway.
While Smith is at-home and offering advice from the FloRacing broadcast, MyRacePass timing, and Thorson's feedback, Tanner is actively working on the car at-track with the assistance of car chief Brinton Marvel and TJ Nichols - all with multigenerational roots in the sport of Sprint Car Racing.
Smith is the sixth man to earn the honor of Cometic Gasket Crew Chief of the Month since the award debuted last season - joining a list that includes Eric Prutzman (5), Ricky Warner (2), Jake Argo (1), Brent Ventura (1), and Tye Wolfgang (1).
The standings will reset for the month of July with four point races scheduled including the Kentucky Sprint Nationals at Florence Speedway in Union, KY on Friday & Saturday, July 11-12, the rescheduled Roto-Rooter Midweek Series event at Fremont Speedway in Fremont, OH on Monday, July 14, and the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA on Tuesday, July 22.
Also on the schedule this month - but offering show-up points only - is Kubota High Limit Racing's return to "The Big E" as we kickoff Kings Royal week. On Wednesday, July 16, the Double Down Duels, a unique split-field program at Eldora Speedway, will set the stage for the $100,000-to-win Joker's Jackpot on Thursday, July 17.
Cometic Gasket Crew Chief of the Month Standings - June 2025:
- Stevie Smith / Rod Gross Motorsports #88 (406 PTS)
- Aaron Reutzel / Ridge & Sons Racing #87 (-8 PTS)
- Ricky Warner / Rico Abreu Racing #24 (-47 PTS)
- Tye Wolfgang / Kasey Kahne Racing #49 (-49 PTS)
- Heath Moyle / Murray-Marks Motorsports #19 (-58 PTS)
- Jake Argo / Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC (-65 PTS)
- Sean Strausbaugh / Buch Motorsports #13 (-76 PTS)
- Jon Randall / Chase Randall Racing #9R (-94 PTS)
- Shane Bowers / Jason Meyers Racing #14 (-126 PTS)
- Barry Jackson / CJB Motorsports #5 (-134 PTS)
- Tyler Tessemaker / Rudeen Racing #26 (-154 PTS)
- Andrew Bowman / Kasey Kahne Racing #9 (-154 PTS)
- Tyler Garber / Mosites Lynch Motorsports #42 (-181 PTS)
- Danny Sams Jr. / Randerson Racing #24D (-224 PTS)
Make sure to follow @HighLimitRacing on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram to stay up-to-date with series information including news, event updates, ticketing information, and more.
Fans can buy tickets to upcoming races by clicking here. Remember, every pre-sale ticket purchase enters you to be selected for the DURST Dice Roll and a chance to win $2,500 from your favorite driver.
To learn more about Cometic Gaskets, visit www.cometic.com and follow @cometicgasket on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram and @cometic on Facebook.
For fans unable to attend the track, you will be able to stream every High Limit Racing event live on FloRacing. If you’re not a FloRacing subscriber, you can sign up today at www.FloRacing.com/HighLimit.
- administrator on Jun 30, 2025
- Article Date: 6/30/2025 by Brian Walker