Hirata Motorsports
Will Smith Motorsports welcomes two new partners in preparation for 2021 season
LOWELL, IN – Everyone is anxious to put 2020 behind and build a better 2021. With racing on full go, industry companies and race teams 
are doing what they do best – pressing forward despite all obstacles. Will Smith Motorsports and Hirata Motorsports lost little lustre in 2020 and are preparing for their best season yet.
Will Smith Motorsports welcomes new partners Asphalt Consultants, Inc. and NutScentz, LLC for 2021. “We’re expecting a great year,” said Smith, driver of the Hirata Motorsports TAD. “I’m thrilled to have Asphalt Consultants and NutScentz on board. They are great companies who see the value in motorsports marketing. Now more than ever, it’s important for companies to have a platform they can trust. The Smith/Hirata team and NHRA are just that. We understand what companies may have lost in 2020 and how to move forward in 2021.”
Asphalt Consultants is a Tuscaloosa, AL. based company founded in 1994. It is a prominent emulsion and asphalt supplier for leading pavers across the southeast. They use only state-of-the-art equipment to deliver outstanding results.
Will Smith Motorsports scores first win with Hirata Motorsports
EARLVILLE, IA – In what driver Will Smith calls a “perfect day” the Smith/Hirata duo pulled out their first win together at the NHRA Lucas 
Oil Drag Racing Series regional event at Tri State Raceway this past weekend. Before teaming up, Smith and Hirata have each proven their winning capabilities, and over the last three years, they’ve come close multiple times, but the coveted Wally has somehow eluded them. That was, until now.
“After three years of ups and down, we finally got it done,” told an elated Smith. “It was everything I could dream of. I am so proud of the Hirata Militia! Unfortunately, not everyone could be here to celebrate this weekend, but this win is for all of us.”
Smith swept the weekend, qualifying #1 in the Hirata Motorsports Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.36 effort in the only qualifying attempt weather allowed for. As the cards fell, Smith had to face reigning World Champion, Megan Meyer, first round. Smith’s .017 reaction time to Meyer’s .075 gave him a huge advantage right off the starting line. Meyer wouldn’t make it down the track, so Smith cruised to a win, setting the stage for the rest of the day.
“When I woke up that day, everything just felt right. Even the weather was perfect. After taking out Megan first round, I knew we could do it. This could be our day,” Smith storied.
Smith and Hirata provide quality entertainment while racing is halted
Lowell, IN – The dynamic duo that make up the Smith/Hirata Motorsports Team haven’t let a global crisis and 
complete shutdown of their industry dampen their spirits or slow their efforts. They’ve simply switched gears and focused their creative energies on entertaining fans and enthusiasts worldwide.
Their hilarious and informative videos have spread quickly over social media, bringing a little light to the industry while everything remains in a holding pattern. From turning NGK spark plugs into face masks to utilizing their famed #mulletmafia hairstyles to promote Lucas Oil products, their videos and posts on https://www.facebook.com/willsmithmotorsports/ and https://www.facebook.com/hiratamotorsports/ provide a break from otherwise increasingly negative media.
“Dave [Hirata] and I love to cut up together,” Smith elaborated. “It’s in our personalities. We have game faces, of course, but there’s always an element of fun to what we do. We recognize this as a strength to engage our audience and promote our marketing partners. Plus, we all need a little extra laugh during times like these. It’s what’s going to help us get through until we’re back on the track again.”
New and Returning Sponsors Bring Will Smith, Hirata Motorsports into Pursuit of 2020 TAD Regional Title
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Coming off a very strong 2019, Will Smith and the Hirata Motorsports Top Alcohol Dragster 
team are finding their stride. They finished third in North Central Regional points standings for 2019 and currently sit second in JEGS Allstars in the North Central Region.
Smith and Hirata will welcome their faithful line up of partners Lucas Oil, Protect the Harvest, NGK Spark Plugs, Schepel Buick/GMC/Cadillac, TeaCo Geophysical, 4G Transportation, ProThings Apparel and Race Ugly Speed Shop in pursuit of the 2020 title, and are proud to announce a new partnership with Industrial Shelving & Equipment of Kankakee, IL.
“We’re very excited to welcome Industrial Shelving & Equipment to the team,” stated Smith. “(Owner) John Blumenthal is an outstanding business man and all around great guy. He’s been a longtime fan of motorsports and the company is poised to go nationwide, which makes the partnership with an NHRA drag racing team a perfect fit.”
Smith conquering big goals one round at a time
BOWLING GREEN, KY – A year ago, Will Smith was just getting his feet wet in a class he’d dreamed about for years. 
Now, Smith is in the hunt for the LODRS North Central Region Top Alcohol Regional Championship. The progress he and the Hirata Motorsports Team have made in just a year’s time is impressive to say the least. While each team member had vast experience in the sport, the team itself was a new unit and has quickly gelled, rising to championship caliber.
With two semi final and two final round finishes to their 2019 credit, the Smith/Hirata team sits third in regional points, just 32 points out of first. The next two weekends, with the Bowling Green regional and The Big Go, will go a long way in shaping Smith’s points standings, but to him every round is the same.
“We have a legitimate shot at the championship,” Smith said with confidence. “And at the end of the day, we have the experience, consistency and performance capabilities to win. My personal philosophy is to go out and focus on the task at hand – take it round by round. When you do it that way, the round wins and hopefully event victories will take care of themselves. We’re not going to focus too much on the points. We’re going to do what we know we’ve got to do and let the rest take care of itself.
Smith/Hirata Motorsports keep turning heads Smith scores second final round of the season in Norwalk
NORWALK, OH – One thing is becoming quite clear about Will Smith’s drag racing career: he’s going to keep things 
interesting both on and off the track. An easy-to-like people person, Smith is always up for something that will bring a smile or laugh. Tuning guru and team owner, Dave Hirata, is much the same, so the pair have had quite a run in their short tenure together. When it’s time to work, they put their heads down and mean business, but whether it’s through their never-done-before paint scheme or mullet hairstyles, the Smith/Hirata Motorsports team is sure to keep things interesting.
The same goes for their on track performance. At this past weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Smith laid down an impressive 5.33 right off the trailer. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t make it down the track again until first round.
“Qualifying was an absolute disaster,” Smith relayed. “We made that one good qualifying run Friday. Off the trailer it went a .33. It was a good run. Looking at the computer and evaluating the run afterwards, we knew there was more left in it. The last two runs we didn’t get to make because we had two reversers break on us and just little stuff go wrong. First round we got up there and crossed our fingers and hoped it went down the track. Fortunately it did.”
Smith progressed with a 5.39, but he knew it would take more than that to get past second round opponent Jackie Fricke.
Will Smith/Hirata Motorsports scores first final round appearance
NORWALK, OH – At the most recent NHRA Division 3 event, the Cavalcade of Stars at Summit Racing Equipment 
Motorsports Park, Will Smith and Hirata Motorsports earned their way to their first final round appearance together.
This team is making people take notice on all fronts. It’s a throwback season with celebrated mullet hairstyles and a tribute dragster that pays homage to great names in Top Fuel through the years. While the wow factor of this year’s team image was enough for people to take notice, Smith and Hirata wasted no time in making sure their on-track performance didn’t take second place.
“What a difference a year has made,” Smith began. “Last year at this event we made our debut. We weren’t even really sure who our crew was going to be for the remainder of the year. We DNQ-ed. We were behind the eight ball. We worked hard all last season and throughout the off season. I think our performance this past weekend showed that.
“The new combination we’ve been working on over the winter is really showing a lot of promise. We’re starting to get to where we need to be. We’ve got a combination and tune up, and we’re gaining more confidence. Now it’s just a matter of getting more laps with it and establishing some consistency.”
Smith Returns to the Seat for Hirata Motorsports, Brings Along New Partners
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Will Smith Motorsports and Hirata Motorsports are teaming up for their second consecutive 
season in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster. Smith will again be behind the wheel of the Dave Hirata-tuned dragster, competing in NHRA Division 3 and select national events.
“We’re excited to build on what we started last year as a new team,” stated Smith. “We’re working on new combinations. Our goal is to win this year, as it was last year, but we definitely feel we’re in a better position to take home the Wally on Sunday.”
Smith and Hirata finished ninth in the region last year. “We’re looking to improve that with at least a top five finish,” continued Smith. “This is a team more than capable of winning the whole deal. We’re looking to better our top 10 finish, going after a regional championship this year.”
Smith secured two new sponsors for this year’s championship run: TeaCo Geophysical and 4GTransportation. “We’re very excited to welcome TeaCo and 4GTransporation to the team. I’m honored to drive for Hirata and our returning sponsors, and I know TeaCo and 4GTransportation will be a big asset to our team.”
Smith and Hirata hope for hometown success at the Big Go
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The prestige of the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals is not lost on the Hiratas, though they 
are veterans of the sport and boast wins at the U.S. Nationals dating back 55 years. And for newest addition to the team, driver Will Smith, his first look at racing Top Alcohol Dragster at the Big Go is thrilling.
The team has been heavy in R&D this season and will implement some of their findings for this weekend’s event.
“It’s been an incredible year for me, personally,” began Smith. “This team is everything I could have hoped for. We’ve had both challenges and successes this season, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what we can do in Indy.
“Dave’s father, Kenny, co-owned the Top Eliminator car that won the 1963 U.S. Nationals,” Smith continued. “This is the 55th anniversary of that win. It would be really cool to do it again.”
Smith and Hirata establish strong TAD presence at first national appearance
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – After a warm up outing at a Lucas Oil Regional event, Will Smith and Dave Hirata took the 
Hirata Motorsports Top Alcohol Dragster to this past weekend’s JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals where they wasted no time in establishing themselves, going straight to the top of the pack with their first qualifying run.
“That run felt great. I could tell when the ‘chutes hit that it was my best pass to date,” Smith said of the run. “I knew the 5.33 may not hold for the number one spot, but it was a great pass that kept us solidly qualified in a tough field.”
Smith’s 5.33 pass came at an impressive 280 miles per hour, a number that would stand as the fastest mile per hour of the event.
“We fought some issues with the motor a couple of times throughout the weekend, but we were able to figure it out on race day and we made two good runs back to back,” Smith told. “We won first round on a hole shot. Second round we got outran, but when you run the world champ, number one qualifier, you always have your work cut out for you. It was, all in all, a great weekend.”
