Stubborn Starter... seeing fuel on ground

My starter is obviously going bad because when I attempt to crank it I hear a loud, free-spinning sound from the starter. When I "SMACK" it with a long dowell rod it will then start the car. I can handle that. However when I attempted the same process this morning the starter turned very slow and then I saw fuel all over the driveway. Does this have anything to do with the repeated attempts to start and it just flooded very bad or what? Please help.

A fuel line from the tank to the engine that runs along the frame rails might have rusted through. They do that. Before you accidently set the car on fire, find out where the fuel is coming from.

did ya beat through a fuel line? lol

sounds like a plain fuel leak and time for a new starter.