'We've gone all out this year': Daisy Smith living her dream on the track

The 16-year-old speedway enthusiast will move into the speedcar division next year after learning her craft in the junior divisions.

She currently races in the Formula 500 division which is a breeding ground for future stars of the sport.

Daisy is a third generation driver from Wyrallah and wants to follow in the footsteps of her father Craig in the speedcar division.

"My dad has been a bit hesitant because they're a bit wild, but he said it's the best and most thrilling car he's ever driven," Daisy said.

"They're thrilling to watch, let alone drive, so I can only imagine how much fun that will be.

"Perth has the Australian title this year and Lismore has the Queensland title.

"They're big in Victoria too, so it would be great to race around Australia in them."

Daisy has joined the GSA Motorsports team and will race in the Queensland Speedcar Series next season.

It all started for her as a 10-year-old riding go-karts before she quickly looked to other forms of racing.

"My heart wasn't really set on go-karts and I eventually drove in a friend's junior sedan which was my first time racing on dirt," she said.

"My first full season in this (Formula 500) class was when I was 14 and we went all in on it.

"They can sometimes be the quickest cars of the night and because it's so even at the junior level, we have a lot of great racing between everyone.

"It was a big learning curve when I first started, for me driving and for mum and dad on the tools.

"This is my last season in juniors, so we've gone all out this year and we're doing as much racing as we can get to."

Daisy has notched wins on her home track and said being top five during Speed Week in Victoria was one of her proudest achievements.

She has plenty of support from talented drivers including David Russell, who is a Supercars enduro regular.

He grew up with her father Craig Smith and their fathers also raced together.

Russell now sponsors Daisy through The Drive Team business and has watched her compete locally with Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki.

She has other local sponsors around Lismore as well as support from American star McKenna Haase.When she was 18 she became the first female to win a sprintcar feature at Knoxville in 114 years.

Each year she sends across her racing suit from that season which Daisy wears the following season.

She also shares fitness tips and exercises to use.

Recently Daisy was recognised as the Lismore City Council junior sportsperson of the year award on Australia Day

"It was a pretty amazing experience to have," she said.

"Especially after finding out who it was that nominated me.

"It was actually a school teacher I had in Year 1 (Nadine Toniello).

"She follows my racing and comes and watches at Lismore.

"I've got such great support at home and I love that friends and family can watch me."

Daisy hopes to finish her final season in juniors on top.

She is in the Brisbane pointscore series as well as the Lismore competition.

"We've definitely been giving it our all this season," she said.

"Everyone is there to win, but it's good to see anyone in the division racing well.

"Everyone has different goals and wants to go into other divisions at some point.

"The quality of racing has always been great and I've been lucky to learn a lot over the last few years.