Auto shop races to the top

TIFFIN – For 26 years, Smitty's Custom Automotive in Tiffin has been a local hot rod shop known for custom cars and restorations. The family-run business also takes part in national racing competitions. Established in 1999 by Mike Smith and his son, Chris, the shop emphasizes family values. Chris Smith now runs the shop, bringing in his son, Jason, and his brother, Tony. While the business focuses on hot rods, race cars, custom builds and restoration, it also serves as an everyday auto body shop. The racing side of the business began 15 years ago, with Chris competing in multiple series with four different cars. He has raced in over 50 events and won 10 championships. One event he takes part in is the OPTIMA's Search for the Ultimate Street Car, a national championship event for street-legal performance vehicles. According to the official SpeedTour website for the competition, the challenge puts competitors through a unique blend of tests of each vehicle's performance, streetability, and engineering. The competition incorporates five key segments: a road course, an autocross, an acceleration-and-braking challenge, a road rally, and design and engineering. The website specifies that the road course tests a car's performance "in real road racing conditions," while the road rally is the event that "establishes the ability for the vehicle to be driven on the street." The design and engineering segment judges the vehicle's construction and modifications for look, performance, and functionality. Chris's wife and business partner, Lynn, explained that winning requires competing at the highest level in all five segments. She noted that OPTIMA holds eight to 10 races every year, with the final championship based on a competitor's two best finishes. Lynn shared that a perfect score of 500 has never been achieved, with only a handful of people getting close at 498 points. Smitty's achieved that near-perfect score last year, helping Chris secure both the GTV class championship and the overall championship across all classes. This marks the third consecutive time Smitty's has won the GTV class championship due to outstanding performances at Sebring International Raceway and Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Chris and Jason finished their racing season at the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational at the SEMA show in Las Vegas from Nov. 5-8. Chris took first place in the GTV class national championship and came in second for the overall championship. Jason came in third in the GTV class. "Racing is a great way to promote our business, the excellent performance parts we sell, and what these beautiful restored machines can do," Chris Smith said. "Bigger than that, we've become an important part of this racing community where competitors also support and help each other out. The best part is I get to do all this with my two boys."