Racer has more than track in mind

From the Grand Island Independent
http://www.theindependent.com/stories/03222008/spo_fossberg22.shtml

by Brad Fossberg

Sometimes in sports you meet people who impress you for reasons other
than their athletic accomplishments. Modified driver Tyler Smith of
Gibbon is one of those people.The 20-year-old is entering his third
season competing in the IMCA Modified division at Mid-Nebraska
Speedway, although this year is shaping up to be his most memorable.

In the off-season area stock car drivers often wrestle with their
identity and what their car will look like when it hits the track. For
Smith the look and the inspiration came in a dream.

"It's a weird story," Smith said. "It's probably the weirdest thing
that's ever happened to me."

Dreams are sometimes hard to recall but Smith remembers the message of
this vision was simple: Do something special.

So the search was on to find a cause something to race for. He'd
always thought St. Jude's Hospital was special because of what it did
for kids. On the other hand, so many people are impacted by the
American Cancer Society. Along the way, the Smith clan was unwillingly
introduced to Multiple Sclerosis.

"We had a family member that was diagnosed with MS," Smith said. "So
we looked into racing for them and the MS people were really excited."

It's turned into a racing crusade.

"It's been kind of overwhelming," Smith said. "I've never really seen
me doing something like this. But it feels pretty good."

Five months work and a coat of neon-orange paint and the car was ready
for the unveiling during National Multiple Sclerosis week.

"We kind of rolled it out last week and we'll have it in the car show
at the Conestoga Mall next weekend," Smith said.

A year and a half in a used modified has convinced Smith that he is
ready to race in a car that truly has his brand on it.

"After three years of research we built a brand new car this year,"
Smith said. "It's a little bit of seven different chassis all rolled
into one."

Smith would like to use his "Monster Mod" to improve on last year's
top-10 finish at Mid-Nebraska Speedway. A seventh place trophy was,
according to Smith, "not good enough."

A win here and there will be nice this year but Smith said he'd also
like to raise awareness about MS.

"Not many people know much about the disease, like there's no cure,"
Smith said. "I hope fans stop by at a show or at the races and ask
questions."

Whether he wins a race or not all the hard work has already paid off.

"A little boy saw the car and his eyes got as big as tires," Smith
said. "He thought my car was pretty cool so that probably made my
season before it even starts."

Smith has had two major influences in his short race career. His
father, former racer Gene Smith, and former area modified driver
Jeremy Eatherton.

I'm sure both are proud of what this young man has already
accomplished this year without turning a lap.

In between race nights some 200 people are diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis. Each lap turned by Smith gets us one step closer to a day
that we don't have to race for a cure.