Concord, NC — Clint Smith had no idea.

The 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series standout attended the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association’s 18th annual Peach Bowl Reunion on Jan. 28 in Riverdale, Ga., under the impression that he would present his father, former driver Roscoe Smith, a special award.

Instead, Clint was the one who left the gathering with a piece of hardware.

Smith, 41, of Senoia, Ga., was honored as the GARHOFA’s 2006 Driver of the Year.

After being summoned to the front of the Peach Bowl Reunion crowd, Smith looked at the plaque he believed was for his father and quickly realized that it was actually engraved with his name.

“It sure took me by surprise,” said Smith. “I like when my father gets remembered for what he did, so that’s why I was at the Reunion.”

Smith graciously accepted the organization’s Driver of the Year Award, which it presents annually to a Georgia racer. Competitors from all divisions are considered for the award.

“It’s a super-good feeling to win it,” pronounced Smith, who won four 360 OTC WoO LMS events in 2006 (second-most on the tough tour) and 11 features overall. “There’s a lot of drivers from the state of Georgia who had great years, so to be singled out means a lot.

“Bill Elliott (NASCAR Nextel Cup star from Dawnsonville, Ga.) won this same award in the past, so that makes winning it a little more special.”

Smith shared the day with his wife Kim, daughter Jenna, and crewmen Johnny Cloer Jr. and Jeff Strope – all of whom also thought they were attending the reunion of Georgia racing pioneers to see Smith’s father receive an award.

Following the memorable afternoon, Smith returned to his shop to continue final preparations for a busy 2007 season. He will begin his campaign by competing in this Saturday night’s program at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Ga., and then return to action one week later in the 36th annual DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Mopar Speed Shop at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., which includes two 360 OTC WoO LMS events (Feb. 15 and 17) and four nights of UMP DIRTcar Racing competition (Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 16).

Smith will chase the entire 360 OTC WoO LMS schedule this season, hoping to improve upon his 10th-place finish in last year’s point standings.

“We seem to always have that two-month lull in the center of the year and that costs us in the points,” analyzed Smith. “I’m not sure what causes it, but we have to avoid it this year. We have to find a way to be more consistent the whole way.”

There will be a slight change in Smith’s program in ’07. He’s now listed as the sole owner of his race team; Jerry Passmore, who owned the truck and trailer that Smith used last year, will reduce his role with Smith’s effort to a sponsor only.

“We have two (GRT) cars ready and two more we’re trying to get built,” said Smith. “We’re also trying to get our truck and trailer together and get more motors and sponsors.”

Smith is taking a wait-and-see approach about fielding a second car on this year’s 360 OTC WoO LMS for his chief mechanic, Johnny Cloer Jr., who turned some heads in his limited starts on the tour last year.

“If the finances work out we’d like to put together a Rookie (of the Year) program for Johnny,” said Smith. “I think what we’ll do is get the season started and get the (bank) account built up a little bit, and then we’ll look at how the (360 OTC WoO LMS) Rookie deal is going. Since this year (the WoO LMS) is taking the 30 best finishes for the rookies, we can still jump in on the program with Johnny after 14 or 15 races.”

Coming off the most prolific checkered-flag season of his three years on the 360 OTC WoO LMS, Smith is confident that he can contend for the ’07 championship.

“We feel good about what our program is capable of this year,” said Smith. “It’s as strong as it’s ever been.”

The daunting 360 OTC WoO LMS schedule, which currently boasts 50 races at 41 tracks in 23 states, doesn’t intimidate Smith.

“We run about 70 to 90 shows a year anyway,” said Smith, “so most of them might as well be Outlaw shows.”

For more information on the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.