Anna Lisa Smith Racing into a Top Fuel Career

[Nitrohaulic]

I'll limit my judging to her own words until there's evidence to do otherwise.

"I've grown up with racing, and I've always enjoyed NASCAR racing, but the first time I went to zMax with my brother Marcus, I fell in love," she said. "I felt so comfortable. I thought it was beautiful and really loved the people. Everyone has been amazing. The drivers, the crews, and all of their friends have just been so supportive. These have to be the nicest people in the world.

Just like Scott Kalitta did, she has means and is endeavoring into a dangerous thing that she doesn't have to.

Then again, I have a girlfriend who does most of her daily driving within ONE MILE OF HER HOUSE!!!

 

[davey]

How many runs did Mike Neff have before his first race? Just curious. They didn't say she was going to be out there making full pulls tomorrow. They said they were taking their time.

 

[Jenn]

Sounds good, I wish her the best of luck.

Even somebody with an agent like that, I think is good for the sport. A potential sponsor might not see the fit with Anna Lisa, but may have their interest piqued with another driver who will fit into their demographic.

She chose the short route, but maybe not the easiest route to go with but it's the route she chose, sounds like she's confident enough to take a swing at Top Fuel and humble enough to know that she might mess up from time to time.

Sounds like she's got access to plenty of track time and possibly some side by side testing opportunities to get herself used to some of the situations that could come about.

 

[none]

What about Dan Pastorini, John Andretti, maybe even Jack Clark. It seems this road has been traveled before.........just not with a billionaire's beautiful daughter!!

I wish her well..............any truth to Victoria's Secret for a sponsor????

 

[PJ]

I wish her well. Don't see why people get bothered by how she gets it. In some way or anther it is all about who you know or at least being right place and the right time.

Sure I wish my dad had that kinda money to get me into the game, but I wont hate on her for having that advantage

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Sure I wish my dad had that kinda money to get me into the game, but I wont hate on her for having that advantage

So does yer dad.

 

[d'kid]

I sure wish NHRA would mandate one year either in an Alky class, or in an Advanced E.T. class before allowing any racer to license for TF/FC! It would weed out the wantabees!

and it would have weeded out Zippy last season, Would have weeded out Eric Medlen, And Robert Hight...

d'kid

 

[67 Cuda]

This should be great for the sport. Anytime somebody new comes in the sport in any of the Pro classes is a plus. Hopefully she be able to bring in a new big name sponser also. This will bring more TV and print time for NHRA racing and we need all we can get right now.

 

[Jenn]

So does yer dad.

Lol, good one Zappers

 

[Toejam]

and it would have weeded out Zippy last season, Would have weeded out Eric Medlen, And Robert Hight...

d'kid

Apples and Oranges Karl, all those guys spent like 5 years or more working on a crew, Plus like Hight I bet all of them made several pulls before running they're first race.

 

[BaldyLochs]

Good gravy. She's a sponsor's dream come true. The name, funding, good looks... who cares if she knows how to drive... that's teachable.

 

[M Jones]

Apples and Oranges Karl, all those guys spent like 5 years or more working on a crew, Plus like Hight I bet all of them made several pulls before running they're first race.

Joe, could you expand on how being a crew member teaches you to drive, I just read the article and it looks to me that she will make several pulls in a T/F car before her first race

 

[Mooseman]

The only question I ask is , why top fuel? You look at most of the drivers that come along and do well they are in the class they desired to be in you know and wouldn't even think about swapping classes . If she wants to race top fuel because she loves top fuel then thats great . You look at guys like john force , apart from a short stint in a fuel altered he has raced funny cars allmost his entire career because thats the class he wanted to be in you know he found the class he liked and stuck with it .

Rich daddy or not , this girl by the sound of it wants to do it on her own from what she said in the article . If she gets there then goodluck.

Did anyone flame Joe Amato or the Kalittas for racing and being rich? I highly dout it . I wonder if Bruton Smiths daughter was a son instead would people still have the same oppinion.

 

[Dave]

I don't think it has anything to do with being a boy or girl. The problem here is it's another person that thinks driving a Drag Race car is pretty easy. As far as being a rich kid, everybody complains about it, it's called jealousy. I'm just as guilty as the next guy. I've heard Don Prudhomme b*tch about Billy Meyer years ago. There is a difference between working and earning your way rather than just having it handed to you. Look at John Force. Like him or not, he worked his heart out to get where he is today. I think that's what's got people going in this case.

Dave

 

[Nunz]

Nobody says that a person can't jump into a fuel car without ever driven anything else and not be successful, and Anna may just do that. As far as being born into the opportunity, hey, more power to her. Morgan Lucas is where he is because of his parents, but this kid really has a passion for the sport, and I hope he's a lifer. Same with Brandon Bernstein. The only thing I think, as I posted before, is that doing a season in an A/FD or TA/FC first could only be beneficial. I've heard many pros say the same thing. Any kind of car is easy to drive (provided you can get used to the acceleration) when things are going right, as many here have stated, it's when the unexpected happens that experience is key. There is no one correct way to do this, but I think that the way Force and Kenny provided training for their kids before moving up is the best, IMO.

 

[mw6789]

Bob, Robert Hight made over 100 pulls before his first race, at least that's what I was told. And yeah guys like him and Del had been around the sport for some time before licensing. But I've talked to some of the veterans who say these cars are easy to drive, until you get in trouble. That's when experience shows!

A buddy of mine who had a blown pro mod car told me that driving the car was easy--anybody could do it. He said I can show you what to do, and you can go down the track fine--until you get in trouble. Then you better be a race car driver.

 

[FC Girl]

I just saw this post, and I think it's very well written and says a lot. RG I hope it's okay that I've shared this on Mater:


Personal story segment many can relate to:

I have sacrificed a lot to have the modest operation I have. It is a product of 35 years of doing without vacations, beach homes, and even kids or a normal life because I chose racing over having a family (except for marrying my wife). That is a decision I will regret for the rest of my life.

When I switched to racing TA/FC almost 20 years ago, in order to stay out there I left the seat in 1997 because I didn't have the rescources to race at the level I wanted to, so the seat went to the highest bidder except when TORCO sponsored me. That's when I looked for the best driver I could find and Larry Miner, who brought no money, was my guy. Have I raced at all costs? Unfortunately yes. Good decision? Probably not.

Lou Gasparrelli told me a long time ago that he would see people show up out of no where with an operation to die for only to see them come and go while the hard core guys like us are somehow always out there. These people show up, find out the Wally's aren't for sale, get bored and leave. These flash in the pan racers find out their money can't buy them talent and ability when it comes to driving and winning in a race car, so it's off to the next thing they saw on TV or read about in a magazine that sounds like fun.

It doesn't bother me to see someone spending Daddy's money to go racing. More power to them. But I think I appreciate what I have a lot more than most of those who've had it handed to them because of the commitment, sacrifice, planning, budgeting, overtime, and the risks I took for me to get there in the first place.
__________________

 

[Bullet]

I wish her nothing but good luck.

I would never wish anyone ill will or bad luck in a racecar.

 

[T.Smith]

I just saw this post, and I think it's very well written and says a lot. RG I hope it's okay that I've shared this on Mater:


Personal story segment many can relate to:

I have sacrificed a lot to have the modest operation I have. It is a product of 35 years of doing without vacations, beach homes, and even kids or a normal life because I chose racing over having a family (except for marrying my wife). That is a decision I will regret for the rest of my life.

When I switched to racing TA/FC almost 20 years ago, in order to stay out there I left the seat in 1997 because I didn't have the rescources to race at the level I wanted to, so the seat went to the highest bidder except when TORCO sponsored me. That's when I looked for the best driver I could find and Larry Miner, who brought no money, was my guy. Have I raced at all costs? Unfortunately yes. Good decision? Probably not.

Lou Gasparrelli told me a long time ago that he would see people show up out of no where with an operation to die for only to see them come and go while the hard core guys like us are somehow always out there. These people show up, find out the Wally's aren't for sale, get bored and leave. These flash in the pan racers find out their money can't buy them talent and ability when it comes to driving and winning in a race car, so it's off to the next thing they saw on TV or read about in a magazine that sounds like fun.

It doesn't bother me to see someone spending Daddy's money to go racing. More power to them. But I think I appreciate what I have a lot more than most of those who've had it handed to them because of the commitment, sacrifice, planning, budgeting, overtime, and the risks I took for me to get there in the first place.
__________________

That just about sums it up for me.

 

[Mooseman]

I was reading an interview with with Grant Downing (Silver Fern Racing Nitro F/C) where he said that sometimes its good to go straight into a nitro funny car because if you have learnt to race something like a door car previously you can pass on bad habits .