Williams was approached by those involved and asked if he’d be willing to come on board and help get the series off the ground.
“After a few long conversations a couple of the drivers and team owners were like, ‘Hey, there is some different direction going on in the racing world right now and we think we should control our destiny a little bit and get this SMART deal started,’” Williams recalled. “About two days later and they said, ‘Hey, would you help us out? Your background in racing, you understand the cars, you understand a lot about the business side of it.’
“We sat down and listened to everybody and the passion that the teams and the drivers had. Everybody is on the same page,” Williams continued. “I listened to them and I told them I would be willing to help them out.”
The SMART Modified Tour isn’t owned and operated by one or two people. Instead, it’s more of an alliance amongthose competing in the series. Williams is the director of the series, which gives him the authority to implement rules and promote events. He also serves as the race director on race day.
However, when it comes to deciding on rules and making major financial decisions, those decisions are left up to the teams and owners involved in the series. They come together and vote and whatever decision is reached is the decision Williams implements.
“The way that we have to build this series is partnerships,” Williams said. “Partnerships with the drivers, with the owners, with the sponsors and with the tracks. We all have seen what could happen a year or so ago and what’s going on with the world. To be honest with you, if we’re going to keep the modified series alive, we’ve got to work a little bit harder than anybody else does.”
Williams and company unofficially relaunched the SMART Modified Tour with four races late last season. It gave them the confidence to move forward with a complete season, beginning Sunday at Caraway.
The series schedule features 10 points races at eight tracks, including Caraway, Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway, South Boston (Va.) Speedway, Dillon (S.C.) Motor Speedway, North Carolina’s Carteret County Speedway, Dominion Raceway in Virginia, Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia and Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
The schedule also includes a non-point event at Florence Motor Speedway on Nov. 19-20 during South Carolina 400 weekend. The races are scheduled in order not to conflict with weekly races at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Word has already spread about the relaunch of the SMART Modified Tour and the entry list for Sunday’s races at Caraway is evidence of it. Among those who have filed entries are modified star Matt Hirschman, reigning CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion Jared Fryar, Bowman Gray Stadium stars Burt Myers, Jason Myers and Tim Brown and 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte.
Labonte has committed to running the entire SMART Modified Tour schedule this year. Williams believes having drivers like Labonte involved in the series can only help the tour grow.
“I think the folks that are in the series is what really makes the series,” Williams said. “It’s very satisfying that these folks are coming and competing in our series.”
The SMART Modified Tour season opens with the Smart Chevrolet 99 on Sunday at Caraway Speedway. Late model stock cars, 602 modifieds, mini stocks and challengers are also on the card. Practice begins at Noon ET, with qualifying scheduled for 1:50 p.m. Racing is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.