It is with great sadness that we must report that the "Reading Rocket", Russ Smith, has passed away. Russ was a mutli point champion at Reading in the Flathead days. He ran Flatheads, Bugs, Legend Cars and Modifieds in his career. RIP Russ!!

Russ married into our family and he was my first true racing hero. I'm too young to have seen him in what I would consider his prime behind the wheel but the 70's and 80's were special times for me as a kid. My thoughts and prayers go out to his daughter Kelly as she buried her mother last year, sister who was tragically taken from us in 2017 and now her dad this year. Its been a really rough few years for her.

Along with the divisions you mentioned, Russ also raced Super Sportsman and some Winged Super Sprint car races too. He also had a snowmobile that he took to drag races in the offseason for some fun. Even took a ride in a Slingshot at the Reading Fair one year. If it had wheels or skis he would race it. If you count the laps he turned at the Circle M Reunions Russ raced/twisted the wheel in 7 different decades.

This one will hurt my dad as he spent many years helping Russ in the garge and at the track. Our family will miss him dearly.

A trailer with a blue and yellow number 11 just pulled into the pit area of the track in heaven. You can almost hear the whispers throughout the raceway that the competition up there just got a bit tougher. Rest in peace Russ. Say hello to Shirley and Carol for me.

Sad to hear, may he rest in peace and Godspeed.

Saw him at Reading in the flatheads... he was a great one...Thoughts and Prayers to Family...

RIP, Russ. Ironically, just 2 weeks ago I lettered this tribute car to Russ for his nephew Steve Seyler. Steve told me this morning that it means a lot more now.