Truckers News Article

by Dean Tait

How do you get a job driving a NASCAR race team transporter? "It’s knowing people in racing," responds Dave Smith, the 43-year-old transporter driver for the No. 30 Winston Cup team. "You’ve got to know somebody or if you don’t, get to know somebody in racing."

"If you don’t know someone that’s already involved with one of the teams, you pretty much have to be in Charlotte and then let people know you’re here and ready to go to work," Smith suggests.

Smith, who is from Lebanon, N. H., was involved in racing in the New England area, and he knew some of the guys who moved to North Carolina from the North and joined NASCAR teams. That led to Smith being hired as the truck driver for the Busch Grand National team of Jeff Krogh for the 1997 season.

The 20-year veteran of the trucking industry got behind the wheel of the No. 30 Winston Cup team transporter last year, hauling Pontiac Grand Prixs for Derrike Cope, a former Daytona 500 champion. Smith has two things that he likes best about the job. One is being involved on NASCAR’s highest levels, the Winston Cup circuit. The other is being on the road, which is also the reason that he’s leaving the job.

Smith recently became engaged, and he’s heading back to New Hampshire to spend more time with Betty, his soon-to-be bride.

It’s not like Smith will just be hanging around the house, however. He wants to return to running the day-to-day operations of his trucking company, Daniel’s Moving and Storage. Daniel’s has five trucks in service — two tractor-trailers and three straight trucks

Smith’s driving position at Bahari' Racing will be filled by 10-year trucking veteran Eric Wakeland. The 29-year- old native of Plymouth, Ind., started in racing last season with the No. 99 Busch Grand National team. "I moved to Charlotte in December of 1997 and sent out resumés to all the teams that I could think of," Wakeland says. It paid off because he soon got a call from John Monsam, the crew chief for the No. 99 Busch car. Wakeland started this year with the No. 90 GTS Busch team before his move to the Bahari' Winston Cup team.

Dave Smith and Eric Wakeland

No. 30 Bahari' Racing Sara Lee Transporter Specs

**Tractor**
Year-Make:	1995 Volvo
Sleeper:	54-inch Integrated Stand Up
Engine:	500 hp 12.7-liter Series 60 Detroit Diesel
Transmission:	13-speed Eaton Fuller
Tires:	Michelin 275/85 x 24.5 XZA-1+ on front and XDA+ on the drive wheels
Wheels:	Accuride Aluminum-24.5 x 8.5 front and rear

**Trailer**
Year-Make:	1995 Competition
Length:	53-foot
Width:	102-inch
Axle:	10-foot air-ride split axle
Tires:	Michelin 255/70 x 22.5 trailer tires
Wheels:	Aluminum Alcoa 22.5-inch
Lounge:	8 feet - set-up for office and meetings

April, 1999
Reprinted by permission of Truckers News (www.truckersnews.com)