He might have had his kneecap nearly removed in a two-car crash months earlier but the injury didn’t prevent this legend from competing at drag racing’s most prestigious event in Indianapolis.

Just one look at the new 2012 Camaro that Jerry Bickel was all the “get-well medicine that “Trickie” Rickie Smith needed to gain medical clearance to race.

Smith was supposed to be out of action for at least three months. This included keeping weight off of his leg, maintaining a strict regimen of physical rehabilitation and remaining incapacitated until the severely damaged cartilage healed itself.

“I wouldn’t be driving if the doctors hadn’t have cleared me to race,” said Smith, who competed recently in the NHRA U.S. Nationals and finished as a quarter-finalist. “Once the doctor told me I could walk on it and go back to work … my job is a drag racer, so I figured I had better get back to work.”

He might have had his kneecap nearly removed in a two-car crash months earlier but the injury didn’t prevent this legend from competing at drag racing’s most prestigious event in Indianapolis.

Just one look at the new 2012 Camaro that Jerry Bickel was all the “get-well medicine that “Trickie” Rickie Smith needed to gain medical clearance to race.

Smith was supposed to be out of action for at least three months. This included keeping weight off of his leg, maintaining a strict regimen of physical rehabilitation and remaining incapacitated until the severely damaged cartilage healed itself.

“I wouldn’t be driving if the doctors hadn’t have cleared me to race,” said Smith, who competed recently in the NHRA U.S. Nationals and finished as a quarter-finalist. “Once the doctor told me I could walk on it and go back to work … my job is a drag racer, so I figured I had better get back to work.”

Smith describes his new Camaro as badass.

“All I need was two runs to get it dialed in,” Smith said. “Then it ran a 5.90. I knew we had a winner.”

As impressive as his quarter-final finish was at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, his Final qualifying run was one for the highlight reel. Since NHRA/ESPN agreements prevent CompetitionPlus.tv from airing one-track action, we can only describe the run.

Smith left the starting line where the Camaro pulled the front wheels into the air, about two feet high, and carried them past the two-three shift, finally setting them down with a puff of smoke similar to a 747 landing on a runway.

Smith ran a 5.968 at 235.51.

In this video, Smith discusses the new car, his injury rehab  and his plans for the season.