Gary Smith says his source of family entertainment on summer weekends is addictive.

That’s why he did it 35 times last summer.

Smith, wife Renee, and children Jesse and Courtney would pack up and head to an auto race where Smith would compete in the pro stock division with his Pontiac Grand Prix.

“Once I got back into racing 14 years ago, I got the fever and couldn’t get away from it. It’s worse than drugs,” said Smith, who races on the Northeast Pro Stock Association tour and is the vice president of the tour’s board of directors.

“We try to make it a family thing. We have a motor home and everybody goes,” said the 42-year-old Smith, a 1974 Orono High School graduate. “The whole crew goes with us. They set up tents. We’re like vagabonds.”

Smith said his wife is the “driving force” behind their jam-packed racing summers.

“But I wouldn’t have it any other way. She pushes me to keep advancing,” said Smith.

His racing career actually began at the age of 17 in the mini stock class at Unity Raceway. He had developed an interest by attending races with his father, Richard. He raced for a couple of years and then got out of it.

Smith, who is a body man at Bud and Ray Auto Body Shop in Bangor, resumed his career in 1984.

“I started helping people [with their race cars] in 1981, and I figured if I was going to do all this work on their cars, I might as well get in a car myself,” said Smith.

With Hermon’s Speedway 95 as his home track, he gradually built up his inventory of race car items.

He moved up in class and will begin his third season on the NEPSA circuit this season after a pair of eighth-place finishes in the point standings. He has never finished atop any point standings, but it doesn’t concern him.

“I’ve never chased points,” said Smith. “We’ve always been into traveling [from track to track].”

He said he is as excited as ever about the upcoming season.

“I’ve been getting more and more competitive because I’ve gained experience and added better equipment,” said Smith. “The first time I raced [two-time NEPSA points champ] Ralph Nason, I said to myself, `What the hell am I doing here?’ But now we run with the best of them. We can stay up there.”

His goal this year is to win a NEPSA race.

“I think it’s very possible. I’ve been close. I’d also like to finish in the top five in points,” said Smith, whose best NEPSA finish hathe top five in points,” said Smith, whose best NEPSA finish has been a fourth at the Big A Auto Parts 150 at Unity last Aug. 31.

“I peaked toward the end of the season, which is always good. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about this season,” said Smith, who has raced in five states and two Canadian provinces.

His biggest thrill so far has been “winning the Oxford 250 qualifier at Spud Speedway” in 1995.

He has benefited from his relationship with Bud Spencer, who has owned most of the cars he has raced and lets him work on his car in the body shop. Smith has worked for Spencer for 20 years.

Smith bought his current Pontiac Grand Prix from Bob Coburn.

Smith doesn’t have aspirations of eventually making a run at the Busch North circuit.

“I want to do what I can the next couple of years and get my son involved and follow him around,” said Smith whose son Jesse is 16. “I’m going to let him take my car out and practice with it this year. He can get his feet wet.”

Owners: Alice Baker, Del Merritt

Length: .33 of a mile

Featured events: NEPSA 150, June 7; Sportsman 100s, June 21, Aug. 2, Aug. 23

Track analysis: A good, fast track that has been improved significantly over the past five years thanks to a repaving job. You can race side-by-side. There are some steep dropoffs that can end a driver’s race prematurely. It isn’t too hard on equipment unless you slide down one of the embankments.

SCHEDULE MAY

10: Opening-day racing, 2 p.m.; 17: regular series racing, 2 p.m.; 24: regular series racing, 2 p.m.; 31: regular racing series, 2 p.m. JUNE

7: NAPA-NEPSA 150 and regular racing series, 2 p.m.; 13: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 20: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 21: Q 106.5-FM Sportsman 100, regular racing series, 1 p.m.; 27: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m. JULY

4: Regular racing series and Budweiser Sportsman dash for cash, 6:30 p.m.; 12: WZON’s crazy day, 2 p.m.; 18: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 25: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m. AUGUST

1: Regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 2: regular racing series and Q 106.5-FM Sportsman 100, 1 p.m.; 8: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 12: Joey Chitwood and the Legend Cars, 7:30 p.m.; 15: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 22: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 23: regular racing series and Q 106.5-FM Sportsman 100; 29: regular racing series, 6:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER

5: Regular racing series, 6:30 p.m.; 6: WKIT Crazy Day, 2 p.m.; 13: regular racing series and sportsman dash for cash, 2 p.m.; 20: regular racing series and sportsman dash for cash, 2 p.m.; 27: regular racing series and sportsman dash for cash, 2 p.m.