Long before Rickie Smith became an iconic door slammer racer, he was an athlete, with letters in both football and wrestling. Such athletic prowess can make one feel invincible, and for the kid from King, NC, he was feeling a bit of himself.

A recipe for disaster includes the town fair, youthful testosterone, a feeling of invincibility, and a primate with an attitude.

Rickie tells the story about the day he crossed paths with a chimp sporting a bad attitude.

This is what happens when you leave the rulebook open to interpretation from Scotty Cannon back in the day. - https://t.co/DvuA9X3dtz pic.twitter.com/i5NhJNDs5h

— Competition Plus (@competitionplus) December 22, 2018

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— Competition Plus (@competitionplus) January 4, 2019