Smokey Boutwell

Competitor
CLASS OF 2005

Smokey Boutwell’s list of racing accomplishments is a long one. He’s raced as far north as Canada, where he’s won the Canadian/American Championship, and as far south as Florida, where he competed in the 1964 Daytona 500, finishing 20th. He’s won championships at Thompson and Stafford Speedway (1969) in Connecticut, The Pines & West Peabody in Massachusetts, Hudson, NH, and Troy/Menards, NY, where he was the 1960 Empire State Champion. He’s also raced at Dover Downs, Star Speedway, Lee USA Speedway, Catamount Stadium, Airbourne Park, Thunder Road Speedbowl, Beach Ridge Speedway, Seekonk Speedway, Westboro Speedway and Claremont Speedway.

Smokey had success driving midgets, stock cars, super modifieds, and sprint cars. Boutwell won 56 races in 1956 alone. In 1959, he was inducted into the Oilzum Hall of Fame.

Dave Dion grew up in the town next to Smokey, and always admired his “never quit” attitude.

Smokey had a strong fan following, and he was a first class gentleman both on & off the track. His son, Nate, Jr. remembers one race, however, when Smokey wasn’t a gentleman. Oscar Ridlon was the promoter at Hudson, where Smokey had been dominating. Oscar placed a bounty on Smokey, who, according to Nate, was hit by “every car in the field” during the heat race. Payback came during the feature, when Smokey started shotgun. He not only won, but managed to hit every car running as he worked his way through the pack.

Nathan “Smokey” Boutwell passed away on September 28, 1993 shortly after his 62nd birthday.