OXFORD – Family is an important part of any sport, but it’s very prevalent in auto racing.

Pro All-Stars Series driver Gary Smith of Bangor has been racing since 1973, and his family is a big part of every race weekend.

His wife, Renee, helps with paper work. Daughter Courtney helps feed the crew members. Brother-in-law Bill Bryant helps with tires, and his son Whitney helps with the setups. Longtime friend Frank Pulver has worked with Smith since 1986.

Last, but not least, Smith’s son Jesse of Carmel is the car chief of the No. 75 Uncle Henry’s Chevrolet and has been for more three years.

It’s all business once the green flag drops.

“When he’s in the car, he’s my driver, not my father. That’s how it works,” said 24-year-old Jesse Smith. “He’s the guy turning the wheel. No different than any other car chief to driver.”

The elder Smith, 49, credits his son for letting him focus on racing and lets Jesse deal with the setups.

“It’s taken a load off me. He’s been doing setups now for probably the last three or four years. Most of the time, he’s right on,” Gary Smith said.

During qualifying races for the 32nd annual TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday, communication and different tires were problems.

“[It’s] pretty stressful when you’re really struggling. We’re used to coming here on PASS tires, and they have a little bit softer compound, a little bit more grip so the chassis can work a little bit better,” said the younger Smith. “Guys have to be really right on today, so it handles good.”

The driver agreed about the struggles.

“Half the deal here is that I can’t give him enough feedback for him to make adjustments – more my fault than it is his. That’s why we’re struggling today,” said Gary Smith.

The team had a bad draw for the first heat race. Smith started last in a 12-car race where only the top four advanced to the main event. He moved up to eighth in the third heat race, but faded to finish 11th.

After moving on to the second consolation race, Smith once again had to start at the rear where he had a run-in with NASCAR Busch North series competitor Kelly Moore, who was filling in for his son Ryan.

“Kelly tried to get to the bottom, but I was already there,” said Smith, the 2001 North East Pro Stock Association Champion. “Apparently, he thought I did it intentionally. I turned him around, but it was his own doings. When he got the chance to catch back up with me, he turned me around. I guess he figures it’s fair game, but it’s not. I don’t turn people, and there was no need of him turning me.”

The 50-lap “B” Feature, where only the winner advances to the TD Banknorth 250, was Smith’s last shot to make the show, but again he fell short, finishing 10th of 21 cars.

Mike Rowe of Turner advanced from the “B” Feature to win his third TD Banknorth 250.

Even though Jesse Smith is currently working as a car chief, he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and race.

“I’m in the process of building a car now. But, kind of focused on [my father’s car] right now,” he said. “I don’t really know yet [where we’re going to race], but I’ll probably race a late model sportsman somewhere.”

Gary Smith said Jesse has been helping at the track “since he was a little fella,” but soon it might be the father helping his son get started.

“[Jesse has] raced Little Enduros at Speedway 95, but would like to get into a bigger car,” said Gary, who has raced at both Unity Raceway and Speedway 95 in Hermon full time. “He wants me to continue racing, but maybe I’ll step back a little next year and run a limited schedule, so we can both race.”

It was a difficult weekend for Smith’s team. Pit crew member Larry Astbury lost his home in Surry to a fire over the weekend.

“He’s helped me a lot, and now he doesn’t have anything now. His house is gone, and he doesn’t have any insurance,” said Gary Smith.

Those interested in making a donation to help the Astbury family may contact: Bar Harbor Banking and Trust, c/o Larry and Mary Astbury, 137 High Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605.