From the start, Wednesday’s practice sessions made it clear that the top contenders would be Keller, Peterson, and Smotherman. But, the Gear1 team focused on long-run pace. RJ’s consistency stood out, and his confidence was sky-high. “This car is a BULLET—don’t touch it!” he told Matt and Dave Jackson after stringing together some of the most consistant laps of the night.
Then came Thursday—and the challenges begun.
In their only scheduled practice, the Gear1 team discovered that their transponder hadn’t been turned on, meaning no official lap times were recorded. As a result, RJ was forced to qualify first out of the 17-car field—far from ideal. Still, he was confident. After his qualifying lap RJ stated “the car felt perfect”, and his lap was stellar one of the fastest he’d ever run.
But adversity struck again: the track’s timing and scoring system wasn’t turned on. No lap time was registered.
With a now hot engine, hot tires and tires passed there peak performance, RJ had to re-qualify under far less favorable conditions. Frustrated, but focused, he dug deep and delivered—posting the third-fastest time, just 0.120 seconds off the pole. A performance that sent a clear message: even when the odds are stacked against him, RJ Smotherman and his Gear1 Racing Jackson chassis are a force to be reckoned with.
The first race of the night went green with an electrifying three-car battle between Kyle Keller, Jeffrey Peterson, and RJ Smotherman. The trio raced hard but clean, swapping positions, showcasing fierce competition and mutual respect. By Lap 12, RJ muscled past Keller to take the lead—and once out front, he began to stretch his advantage. Managing a steady four-car-length gap, RJ looked poised for victory, smartly conserving his equipment for the closing laps.
But with just 10 laps to go, disaster struck. In a cruel twist of fate, the rearend failed, forcing RJ to pull off into the infield, heartbreakingly watching a sure-win slip away.
Adversity Builds Champions
During the short break between races, the Gear1 Racing team went to work. In a moment that captured the true spirit of racing, teams from all over the pits rushed in to help—offering tools, parts, and manpower. It was a beautiful show of community and camaraderie. Still, the repairs were anything but easy. Robert Smotherman and Matt Jackson discovered the damage was more significant than expected, but after an all-out thrash in the pits, they managed to complete the job just in time to make the call for Race Two.
Starting Last. Finishing Strong.
With repairs complete but due to finishing last in the first race, RJ had to start deep in the field of 15 cars. Meanwhile, his stiffest competition Keller and Peterson rolled off from the front row. When the green flag dropped, RJ charged forward—aggressive yet calculated. A daring three-wide pass vaulted him into fifth place by Lap 5.
But, it was up front, Keller and Peterson were checking out, building a massive gap over the field. But RJ wasn’t done. By Lap 9, he’d moved into third, although the leaders held large lead advantag. With his head down and relentless focus, RJ began to slowly shorten the gap.
With just 10 laps remaining the team knew what they needed—a caution to have a chance. With fourth place almost a straightaway behind, the call from the pit box was clear: preserve the points, don’t risk it and hope for a yellow. That never came. RJ held his line and brought home a hard-fought third-place finish—a remarkable recovery and a championship-caliber drive.
RJ Smotherman, Driver – Gear1 Racing
“I had so much fun racing door-to-door with two of the best on the West Coast—Keller and Peterson are true professionals, and I look forward to battling with them again.”“I also want to thank all the drivers who raced me clean as I worked through the field in the second feature—I really appreciate the respect out there.”“Our Gear1 Racing Jackson Chassis was an absolute bullet tonight. Its short- and long-run speed made it a dream to drive, and I couldn’t be happier with the performance.”
Gear1 Racing Team Statement
After all the adversity, we couldn’t be prouder of RJ and our entire team’s resilience. RJ’s focus and sheer determination under pressure put the Gear1 Racing Chevrolet in position to win in the first race—and in the second race a valiante effort to fight back for a third-place finish from the rear without a scratch is a true testament to RJ’s maturity and racecraft. We stood toe-to-toe with some of the best Pro Late Model talent on the West Coast and proved our strength. For us, this third-place finish feels like a win in every way: for our team, for our driver, and for our incredible partners who make this all possible.
We would like to congradulate Prolate model twin race winners Cody Brown & Kyle Keller.
RJ & Gear1 Racing would like to personally thank everyone that helped us in the time of need… we can’t thank each and everyone of you enough.
Mark & Kylie Ith
Tony & Anthony Jackson
John & Johnny Spilotro
Ashton Leanord & family
David Quortaro
Mike Garcia
If there is anyone else that we forgot to list please know we do appreciate you
Gear1 Racing would like to thank our valued partners for their continued support:
Jackson Chassis
Affordable Autos
Snowden’s Landscape
Jim Wolfenstein
Swift Springs
Buzze Racing
RE Racing
AR Bodies
Scott Lynch Media