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.