Column: Blake Smith Continues To Build On His Bright Racing Future Heading Into 2025

Story By: JIM CLARKE / BLAKE SMITH RACING – ATHENS, ONT – The next generation of the sport’s young racing talent can be found in the starting line-up at your hometown speedway.
Cutting his teeth in the provincial karting ranks a few months before his 5th birthday, Blake Smith logged some impressive starts while developing his skills behind the wheel.
Spending time with fellow racers who shared a passion for their craft and would eventually become life-long friends, Smith added qualifying heat and feature event wins to his resume before taking the next step in his racing education with a move to the Brockville Speedway Novice Sportsman division in 2024.
The 15-year-old from Athens, Ontario – who attends Athens District High School and works as a gas station attendant – showed himself to be a quick study on the new proving ground, as the youngster scored a pair of main event victories and 10 top 5 finishes in 11 starts on the way to clinching the season championship.
With the encouragement of his family and racing friends, including Ryan Poole, Jarrett Herbison and Rhylan Poole, the open-wheeled racing sophomore has set his sights on the first green flag that will kick-off a new year of action.
“Even when I was racing karts, Brockville Ontario Speedway was always my favourite track. I really enjoy the competition, going fast and meeting the fans,” explained Blake Smith, who keeps his skills sharp with online iRacing when away from the racecar. “It would be great to score a Super DIRTcar Series win like Alex Payne did last fall, but for now I’ll be back in the Novice Sportsman division. I’m also hoping to run some additional Sportsman-Modified events like our team did toward the end of last season.”
The team’s No. 18B equipment – for the driver’s allegiance to the JGR era of his favourite racer, Kyle Busch and the first letter of his name – is proudly supported by All Out Performance, Dunster Renovations, Dixie Electric, Fibromobile, P38 Energy, Canadian Spa Company, RS Drill Service, Leading Edge Overhead Doors, Obre Plumbing & Heating and Kelsey’s Marina. Behind the scenes and at the track, the car is prepared and maintained by Matt Smith, Ethan Cook, Rob Smith, Rhylan Poole and Paul Dunster.
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Blake acknowledges the vital role of sponsors in his racing endeavours, expressing gratitude for their support in pursuing his passion.