Larry Smith

Larry Grayson Smith (June 2, 1940 – August 12, 1973) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He made his debut in the 1971 World 600 in the #92 Ford, finishing 22nd. He would go on to run three more races that year, acquiring one top-ten finish. In 1972, he was named the first NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, The crew believed the damaged car could be repaired for later participation in the race, however, he was transported to the infield hospital and pronounced dead. It was confirmed that he had died of massive head injuries.

A 1975 report stated that doctors determined that Smith's skull was "abnormally soft", and that it had been fractured several times before his fatal wreck, which would have been detected during a modern physical examination required for an FIA competition licence, required for selected Cup Series races. Research into basal skull fracture, which was reportedly what killed Smith, became more prevalent after the death of Renault engineer Patrick Jacquemart at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1981 when the Renault 5 IMSA GTU car crashed in the Esses. That death led to Jim Downing and his brother-in-law Robert Hubbard to develop the HANS Device, and today, frontal head restraints under FIA Specification 8858-2010 are required for drivers.

It is rumored, but not confirmed, that the head injuries that killed Smith came because he tore the inner-lining out of his helmet, which had been bothering him for some time. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Talladega Superspeedway infield hospital. No other drivers were involved in the crash.

Smith is one of several drivers featured in the 1975 book The World's Number One, Flat-Out, All-Time Great Stock Car Racing Book by Jerry Bledsoe. Bledsoe describes the struggles Smith went through in his run for Rookie Of The Year in 1972.