AMS co-founder Kurt Smith dies at 59
Kurt Smith, a veteran racing official and graphics company owner from Mechanicsburg, Pa., and co-founder of Appalachian Mountain Speedweek, died Monday at 59. He battled health issues since undergoing surgery for kidney cancer in 2024.
An unabashed, life-long fan of Dirt Late Model racing despite living in the sprint car hotbed of central Pennsylvania, Smith served as an official at Silver Spring Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., until its closing in 2005. He then sought advice from Silver Spring promoter and Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek organizer Alan Kreitzer on developing a framework for a Dirt Late Model Speedweek for the area.
Joining with then Bedford (Pa.) Speedway promoter J.R. Keifer, Smith in 2009 launched the miniseries for Dirt Late Models that would eventually become Appalachian Mountain Speedweek. Keifer departed the partnership in 2012 as Smith continued operating the tour through 2017 with his friend Jason Clapper.
Calling his operation of the Speedweek a "labor of love," Smith always ran the series not for profit but "to give everything we can right back to the drivers." The Speedweek went dormant from 2018-22 but returned in '23 — with Smith's blessing and support — under the direction of chassis builder and racer Jim Bernheisel.
Smith, who spent time from the late 2000s through 2010s as the race director for the Saturday-night programs featuring Limited Late Models and winged super sportsman at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., owned KRS Graphics. The company produced wraps for race teams, novelty checks for race winners and other items, including the current logo for Appalachian Mountain Speedweek. He also was a longtime sponsor and close friend of Virginia driver Booper Bare and his son Tyler.
Smith is survived by his wife Pam and daughter Jordan. Arrangements are pending.
