The Smithville Dragstrip operated from 1962 to 1970, and was located off Miller Road where Earl Avenue is today. Swallowed by a residential area and largely forgotten, the Review sat down with some of the original participants to flesh out what really went on at the strip. Charles “Chile Bean” Cantrell, who was there at the track’s genesis, said that like many things in DeKalb County in the 60s the whole affair began at the Sunrise Grill.