Samuel L. Smith (born June 4, 2004) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports.
Smith previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and won two consecutive ARCA Menards Series East championships in 2021 and 2022. He also has competed in the CARS Tour, where he has driven for car owners Barry Nelson, Marcus Richmond, and Donnie Wilson as well as Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Smith began racing at the age of 8 in go-karts, and then began racing legends cars and late models. His dad inspired him to start racing. [1]
Smith made his debut in the CARS Tour in May 2019, driving the No. 12 Toyota for Barry Nelson. He was 14 years old at the time. He would run five more races for Nelson that year and another in 2020, before running two races in the No. 19 for Marcus Richmond. Smith returned to Nelson's team in 2021 to compete in the race at Orange County Speedway. Smith competed full-time in the CARS Series in the Super Late Model Tour in 2020, driving the No. 51 (or on occasion, the No. 51S) for Kyle Busch Motorsports. That year, he also competed in the World Series of Asphalt. [1]
In 2021, KBM decided to temporarily close down their late model team, [2] so Smith moved to Wilson Motorsports for his late model starts that year. [3] He again entered the World Series of Asphalt and won the race driving the team's No. 22 car. [4]
On February 3, 2021, it was announced that Smith would compete in the first five races of the ARCA Menards Series East season as well as the West Series season-finale at Phoenix, all in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 car. [5] In his debut at New Smyrna, Smith would lose the race to Max Gutiérrez in a three-wide photo finish with him and Taylor Gray. [6] Smith would then go on to win and lead the most laps in the next two races at Five Flags and the Nashville Fairgrounds. He also won the pole at Five Flags. At Dover, JGR entered Ty Gibbs (their full-time driver in the main ARCA Menards Series) in the No. 18 and moved Smith to a new second car for the team, the No. 81. (It was originally the No. 18E on the entry list, [7] but since this race was not a combination race, numbers with letters were not allowed and the team had to change the number.) Gibbs would win that race and Smith would finish fourth. At Southern National Motorsports Park, Smith would pick up his third win of the season. While the remaining three East Series races were not on his initial schedule, Smith is expected to return to the No. 81 in those three races (at least Iowa) [8] to hold onto the points lead and win the championship. Those three races are combination races with the main ARCA Menards Series, so Gibbs will be in the No. 18.
Smith returned to the East Series in 2022, this time driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He started the season with a high note, winning the season opener race at New Smyrna, after starting from the pole and leading 167 laps. [9] He scored another win the in following race at Five Flags, leading 107 laps. [10] His third win of the season came at Nashville, as he once again led the most laps, with 156. [11] Smith would also run the main ARCA Menards Series schedule full-time, but because he will not turn 18 until June 4, 2022, he would skip four races at the larger tracks, Daytona, Talladega, Kansas, and Charlotte. [12] He earned his first main ARCA win at Berlin, leading the final 8 laps after race leader, Daniel Dye, suffered a mechanical problem. [13] He would get a second win in the following week at Elko, dominating the race and leading 233 laps. [14]
On June 9, 2022, it was announced that Smith would drive for eight races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, starting at Road America. [15] On December 6, JGR announced that Smith would drive the No. 18 full-time in 2023 with sponsorship from Pilot Flying J.
During the 2023 season, Smith scored his first win at Phoenix; at age 18, he became the youngest Xfinity Series winner at Phoenix, and the fourth youngest winner in series history. [16]
On September 26, 2023, it was announced that Smith will leave JGR after the 2023 season and move to JR Motorsports in the No. 8 car for 2024. [17]
On February 3, 2023, it was announced that Smith would make his Truck Series debut in the 2023 season-opener at Daytona, filling in for Taylor Gray in the Tricon Garage (previously David Gilliland Racing) No. 17 truck due to Gray still being 17 years old and therefore not able to race there. [18]
Spire Motorsports announced on March 27, 2024, that Smith was added to the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for a four-race schedule. [19]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Points | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | ARCA Menards Series | Joe Gibbs Racing | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 107 | 35th |
ARCA Menards Series East | 8 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 385 | 1st | ||
ARCA Menards Series West | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 39th | ||
2022 | NASCAR Xfinity Series | Joe Gibbs Racing | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 230 | 30th |
ARCA Menards Series | Kyle Busch Motorsports | 16 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 851 | 4th | |
ARCA Menards Series East | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 375 | 1st | ||
ARCA Menards Series West | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 143 | 24th | ||
2023 | NASCAR Xfinity Series | Joe Gibbs Racing | 33 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 2248 | 6th |
NASCAR Truck Series | Tricon Garage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† | |
ARCA Menards Series West | Hattori Racing Enterprises | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 38th |
† As Smith was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
NASCAR Xfinity Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | NXSC | Pts | Ref |
2022 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 18 | Toyota | DAY | CAL | LVS | PHO | ATL | COA | RCH | MAR | TAL | DOV | DAR | TEX | CLT | PIR | NSH | ROA 24 | ATL | NHA | POC 31 | IRC | MCH 12 | GLN 3 | DAY 38 | DAR | KAN 8 | BRI 14 | TEX | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR 18 | PHO 10 | 30th | 230 | [20] |
2023 | DAY 19 | CAL 19 | LVS 17 | PHO 1* | ATL 17 | COA 4 | RCH 19 | MAR 2 | TAL 33 | DOV 6 | DAR 11 | CLT 10 | PIR 30 | SON 9 | NSH 34 | CSC 6 | ATL 10 | NHA 5 | POC 6 | ROA 31 | MCH 38 | IRC 28 | GLN 18 | DAY 21 | DAR 17 | KAN 35 | BRI 9 | TEX 3 | ROV 11 | LVS 17 | HOM 9 | MAR 3* | PHO 9 | 6th | 2248 | [21] | |||
2024 | JR Motorsports | 8 | Chevy | DAY 23 | ATL 10 | LVS 8 | PHO 9 | COA 36 | RCH | MAR | TEX | TAL | DOV | DAR | CLT | PIR | SON | IOW | NHA | NSH | CSC | POC | IND | MCH | DAY | DAR | ATL | GLN | BRI | KAN | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | PHO | -* | -* | [22] |
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | NCTC | Pts | Ref |
2023 | Tricon Garage | 17 | Toyota | DAY 14 | LVS | ATL | COA | TEX | BRD | MAR | KAN | DAR | NWS | CLT | GTW | NSH | MOH | POC | RCH | IRP | MLW | KAN | BRI | TAL | HOM | PHO | 102nd | 01 | [23] |
2024 | Spire Motorsports | 7 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | BRI | COA | MAR | TEX | KAN | DAR | NWS | CLT | GTW | NSH | POC | IRP | RCH | MLW | BRI | KAN | TAL | HOM | MAR | PHO | -* | 01* |
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
ARCA Menards Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | AMSC | Pts | Ref |
2021 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 81 | Toyota | DAY | PHO | TAL | KAN | TOL | CLT | MOH | POC | ELK | BLN | IOW 18 | WIN | GLN | MCH | ISF | MLW 5 | DSF | BRI 2 | SLM | KAN | 35th | 107 | [24] |
2022 | Kyle Busch Motorsports | 18 | DAY | PHO 3* | TAL | KAN | CLT | IOW 2 | BLN 1 | ELK 1* | MOH 3 | POC 12 | IRP 2 | MCH 4 | GLN 5 | ISF 4 | MLW 1* | DSF 3 | KAN 3 | BRI 1* | SLM 1** | TOL 1 | 4th | 851 | [25] |
ARCA Menards Series East results | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | AMSEC | Pts | Ref |
2021 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 18 | Toyota | NSM 2* | FIF 1* | NSV 1* | SNM 1 | 1st | 385 | [26] | ||||
81 | DOV 4 | IOW 18 | MLW 5 | BRI 2 | ||||||||||
2022 | Kyle Busch Motorsports | 18 | NSM 1* | FIF 1* | DOV 5 | NSV 1* | IOW 2 | MLW 1* | BRI 1* | 1st | 375 | [27] |
ARCA Menards Series West results | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | AMSWC | Pts | Ref |
2021 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 81 | Toyota | PHO | SON | IRW | CNS | IRW | PIR | LVS | AAS | PHO 3 | 39th | 41 | [28] | |||
2022 | Kyle Busch Motorsports | 18 | PHO 3* | IRW | KCR | PIR | SON | IRW | EVG | PIR | AAS | LVS | PHO 1* | 24th | 143 | [29] | ||
2023 | Hattori Racing Enterprises | 81 | PHO | IRW | KCR | PIR | SON 2 | IRW | SHA | EVG | AAS | LVS | MAD | PHO | 38th | 42 | [30] |
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is an American professional stock car racing organization founded by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. His son, J. D. Gibbs, ran the team with him until his death in 2019. Founded in Huntersville, North Carolina, in 1992. JGR has won five Cup Series championships.
Mark M. McFarland is a former NASCAR driver who worked for Kyle Busch Motorsports as the crew chief for their No. 18 car in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East. In 2021, he won championships in both series with Ty Gibbs and Sammy Smith, respectively. In 2022, he and Smith won their second consecutive East Series championship. Mark now lives in Harrisonburg VA with his wife and 4 sons. He and his wife opened a bakery named "Nothing Bundt Cakes."
Brandon Alexander Jones is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports, as well as part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet SS for Cook Racing Technologies. He has also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series East in the past.
Harrison Brian Burton is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Wood Brothers Racing. He is the son of former NASCAR driver Jeff Burton.
Riley D. Herbst is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 98 Ford Mustang for Stewart–Haas Racing and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing.
Zane Michael Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in an alliance with Trackhouse Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. He won the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship driving for Front Row Motorsports.
Joseph A. Graf Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Chandler Michael Smith Sr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 81 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was a member of Toyota Racing Development's TD2 driver development system from 2018 until the end of 2022 but rejoined the program starting in 2024.
Samuel Adam Mayer is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. His father is the founder of QPS Employment Group, and former IndyCar Series driver, Scott Mayer.
Tyler Randal Gibbs is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs was the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion and 2021 ARCA Menards Series champion. He is the grandson of former NFL coach and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs.
Andrew J. Dollar is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He has raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series East and the ARCA Menards Series West.
Corey David Heim is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He also serves as a reserve driver for Legacy Motor Club and 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series, East Series, and West Series.
Taylor Gray is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 17 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Jesse Hammer Love Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
The 2021 ARCA Menards Series East was the 35th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on February 8 at New Smyrna Speedway with the Jeep Beach 175 and ended on September 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway with the Bush's Beans 200. Sammy Smith and Joe Gibbs Racing won the series championship. JGR's No. 18 car, driven by Smith and Ty Gibbs, won all but one race during the season.
Connor Charles Mosack is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
The 2023 ARCA Menards Series East was the 37th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on March 25 with the Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway and ended on September 14 with the Bush's Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The 2023 ARCA Menards Series West was the 70th season of the ARCA Menards Series West, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on March 10 at Phoenix Raceway with the General Tire 150 and ended with the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100, also at Phoenix Raceway, on November 3.
The 2022 Bush's Beans 200 was the 18th stock car race of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season, the 8th and final race of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series East, the 10th and final race of the 2022 Sioux Chief Showdown and the 2nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Thursday, September 15, 2022, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 mile (0.858 km) permanent oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Sammy Smith, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, dominated the entire race, leading 189 laps for his fourth career ARCA Menards Series win, and his eighth career ARCA Menards Series East win, and his ninth win overall this season. To fill out the podium, Brandon Jones, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Taylor Gray, driving for David Gilliland Racing, finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively.