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Nitrous Innovator, Monte Smith, Passed Away
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Former racing champion, Monte Smith, passed away earlier this month.
The 1996 Super Street championship winner went from hardcore racer to nitrous-tuning guru, and most recently one of Holley Performance Products’ technical representatives, working and innovating the product lines in the company’s NOS and Holley EFI divisions.
He operated Monte Smith Performance—known mostly for its custom nitrous systems—and, he was also responsible for building engines and tuning race cars from Pro Modified down to ordinary street/strip warriors.
The Alabama-based racer/tuner rose to national prominence in the street legal drag racing divisions of the NMCA and HOT ROD Magazine’s Fastest Street Car Shootouts. He competed with a 1969 Plymouth GTX, painted in a bright yellow hue with purple headlights; the car became one of the most iconic vehicles in the 10.5-inch tire scene through the 1990s.
He was a hero in the Chrysler world as he relied on a nitrous-enhanced 440cid B1 engine to garner records, event wins, and eventually the championship. Smith was also one of the early supporters and racers in the Outlaw 10.5 ranks when it featured as-measured 10.5-inch slicks. He has driven everything from the wildest small-tire cars to a supercharged, alcohol-burning Funny Car and Pro Modifieds.
In the early 2000s, his skills at going fast parlayed itself into Monte Smith Performance and his most prolific customer is Chad Henderson. The team was an early adopter of Drag Radials and was also one of the most successful nitrous teams in that genre of drag racing. Together, they won several No Boost and Outlaw Drag Radial classes at the Lights Out/No Mercy brand of Radial racing, EZ Street in the NHRA Unleashed series, as well as many other independent events.
Henderson competes with a 1987 Buick Grand National, which sports a massive 738cid that Smith crafted at his performance shop. He was the crew chief and brain trust of the Henderson Racing program.
The Henderson/Smith juggernaut not only paved the way for nitrous-powered Radial race cars, they were instrumental in bringing EFI into several segments of drag racing. The relationship with NOS, and parent company Holley, made it all possible.
As an early adopter of the Holley EFI Dominator with Henderson’s combination, Smith worked with countless teams in both the boosted and nitrous arenas to further the cause of EFI in Outlaw and Pro Mod drag racing.
Others have known Smith from his time on HOT ROD Drag Week where he offered technical support for Holley products, nitrous tuning, and nitrous bottle filling services throughout the weeklong competition.
The passing of Monte Smith will change the Radial and Outlaw/Pro Mod style drag racing markets as it has lost an innovator, racer, and friend.
Photo courtesy Drag Illustrated.
The 1996 Super Street championship winner went from hardcore racer to nitrous-tuning guru, and most recently one of Holley Performance Products’ technical representatives, working and innovating the product lines in the company’s NOS and Holley EFI divisions.
He operated Monte Smith Performance—known mostly for its custom nitrous systems—and, he was also responsible for building engines and tuning race cars from Pro Modified down to ordinary street/strip warriors.
The Alabama-based racer/tuner rose to national prominence in the street legal drag racing divisions of the NMCA and HOT ROD Magazine’s Fastest Street Car Shootouts. He competed with a 1969 Plymouth GTX, painted in a bright yellow hue with purple headlights; the car became one of the most iconic vehicles in the 10.5-inch tire scene through the 1990s.
He was a hero in the Chrysler world as he relied on a nitrous-enhanced 440cid B1 engine to garner records, event wins, and eventually the championship. Smith was also one of the early supporters and racers in the Outlaw 10.5 ranks when it featured as-measured 10.5-inch slicks. He has driven everything from the wildest small-tire cars to a supercharged, alcohol-burning Funny Car and Pro Modifieds.
In the early 2000s, his skills at going fast parlayed itself into Monte Smith Performance and his most prolific customer is Chad Henderson. The team was an early adopter of Drag Radials and was also one of the most successful nitrous teams in that genre of drag racing. Together, they won several No Boost and Outlaw Drag Radial classes at the Lights Out/No Mercy brand of Radial racing, EZ Street in the NHRA Unleashed series, as well as many other independent events.
Henderson competes with a 1987 Buick Grand National, which sports a massive 738cid that Smith crafted at his performance shop. He was the crew chief and brain trust of the Henderson Racing program.
The Henderson/Smith juggernaut not only paved the way for nitrous-powered Radial race cars, they were instrumental in bringing EFI into several segments of drag racing. The relationship with NOS, and parent company Holley, made it all possible.
As an early adopter of the Holley EFI Dominator with Henderson’s combination, Smith worked with countless teams in both the boosted and nitrous arenas to further the cause of EFI in Outlaw and Pro Mod drag racing.
Others have known Smith from his time on HOT ROD Drag Week where he offered technical support for Holley products, nitrous tuning, and nitrous bottle filling services throughout the weeklong competition.
The passing of Monte Smith will change the Radial and Outlaw/Pro Mod style drag racing markets as it has lost an innovator, racer, and friend.
Photo courtesy Drag Illustrated.
