With another day of racing still to be run, the backside of Rickie Smith’s eighteen wheeler leaving Rockingham Dragway told the story Saturday morning.

Smith, the legendary doorslammer driver from King, N.C., and crew chief for the Al-Anabi/Awesome Motorsports, parted company with the operation Friday evening.

Smith was already planned to part ways with the operation, just not this quickly.

“I told Shannon [Jenkins] and Mike [Castellana] that I planned to fulfill my obligation until the end of the season,” said Smith, while driving home. “I didn’t think there were any problems but I guess it got back to the Sheik.”

With another day of racing still to be run, the backside of Rickie Smith’s eighteen wheeler leaving Rockingham Dragway told the story Saturday morning.

Smith, the legendary doorslammer driver from King, N.C., and crew chief for the Al-Anabi/Awesome Motorsports, parted company with the operation Friday evening.

Smith was already planned to part ways with the operation, just not this quickly.

“I told Shannon [Jenkins] and Mike [Castellana] that I planned to fulfill my obligation until the end of the season,” said Smith, while driving home. “I didn’t think there were any problems but I guess it got back to the Sheik.”

Smith said he met with Sheik Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, along with Jenkins and Castellana, at the track on Friday at the track. When the meeting was over, Smith started packing to leave.

“They just kind of ended the deal then,” Smith explained. “I’m not mad and I don’t have any hard feelings towards anyone. As far as I am concerned, there are no hard feelings on my side. I just wanted to give them a month’s advance notice.”

Shannon Jenkins, speaking on behalf of the Al-Anabi/Awesome Motorsports team, confirmed there are no hard feelings towards Smith and the parting of ways was nothing more than a difference of opinion.

“The Sheik Khalid and Rickie just didn’t see things eye to eye,” Jenkins said. “Rickie felt it was time to move on and they agreed upon that. It took place in the middle of a race, that’s about all I can say.”

Reportedly, Smith’s replacement is Jeff Perley, most recently the co-crew chief for Allen Johnson’s NHRA Pro Stocker.

 

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