Chandler Smith

Chandler Smith Bio

Chandler Michael Smith Sr., born on June 26, 2002, is an American professional stock car racing driver from Talking Rock, Georgia. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports, while also running part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Cup Series. Over the course of his young career, Smith has built a reputation as one of the most consistent rising talents in NASCAR’s national touring divisions, with multiple wins across the Truck, Xfinity, and ARCA Menards Series.

Smith was a member of Toyota Racing Development’s TD2 driver development system from 2018 until the end of 2022, rejoined the program for the 2024 season, and parted ways with it at the end of that year. He has since aligned his career with Ford, teaming up with Front Row Motorsports as a full-time driver in the Truck Series.

Early Life and Background

Chandler Michael Smith Sr. was born on June 26, 2002, in the small community of Talking Rock, Georgia. Growing up in the foothills of north Georgia, Smith was surrounded by short tracks and grassroots racing culture, which shaped his early interest in motorsports. His father, Mike Smith, owns Smith General Contracting, a business that has long sponsored many of Chandler’s racing efforts and helped fund his climb through the sport.

Smith attended Pickens High School in Jasper, Georgia, graduating as part of the class of 2020. While balancing high school and his young racing career, he honed his skills on local short tracks and quickly began to stand out among his peers. In 2013, at just 11 years old, he won the INEX Bandolero Bandit National Championship after victories at Atlanta, Charlotte, and Bethel Motor Speedway, an early sign of the talent that would carry him into NASCAR’s national stages.

Path to NASCAR

Smith’s path to NASCAR moved quickly through the late-model and ARCA ranks. In 2017, he earned the Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year award, and in 2018 he made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. He went on to win the 2018 SpeedFest 200 and later added the prestigious 2021 Snowball Derby to his résumé, solidifying his status as a top late-model talent before stepping into NASCAR’s national series.

His first taste of national NASCAR competition came in 2019, when Kyle Busch Motorsports put him in a Truck Series ride for a four-race schedule. In his very first Truck Series start at Iowa Speedway, Smith captured the pole and led the opening 55 laps, an impressive debut that earned him additional opportunities with KBM and set the stage for a full-time ride the following seasons.

Chandler Smith Career

Early Career (2018–2020)

Smith’s first major steps in NASCAR’s development ladder came in the ARCA Menards Series with Venturini Motorsports. After winning his first ARCA race at Madison International Speedway in 2018, he returned to Venturini part-time in 2019 and 2020, often running short tracks because he was too young to compete at larger venues like Daytona. Across his ARCA career, he amassed 10 wins, 30 top tens, and 10 poles, including a victory in the 2022 Reese’s 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

During this period, Smith also split time between the ARCA Menards Series East, the Southern Super Series, and select NASCAR Canada Series events in 2019. His diverse schedule gave him experience on a wide range of tracks, from short ovals to road courses, and prepared him for the rigors of full-time national-series competition.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)

Smith moved into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 2021, driving the No. 18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He captured his first Truck Series victory in a must-win situation at Bristol Motor Speedway, where contact with race leader Sheldon Creed set up a dramatic overtime win. That breakthrough performance helped him secure the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year award.

In 2022, Smith elevated his game with wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway, advancing into the playoffs and ultimately reaching the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, where he finished third in both the race and the final standings. Across his Truck Series career, he has collected 8 wins, 59 top tens, and 1 pole, including a 2025 campaign in which he scored wins at Bristol and North Wilkesboro while finishing eighth in points.

NASCAR Xfinity Series (2023–2024)

Smith transitioned to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2023 with Kaulig Racing, taking over the No. 16 entry and scoring his first Xfinity win at Richmond Raceway. Despite signing a multi-year contract, Smith parted ways with Kaulig at the end of that season and was announced as the new full-time driver of the No. 81 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024.

With Joe Gibbs Racing, Smith added wins at Phoenix Raceway and Richmond Raceway, finished fifth in the 2024 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings with 3 total Xfinity wins, 36 top tens, and 6 poles. His aggressive style drew attention off the track as well, leading to a US$10,000 fine for a post-race altercation with Cole Custer, and he parted ways with JGR at the end of the season.

Front Row Motorsports Era (2025–Present)

On December 20, 2024, Smith announced his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 2025, this time behind the wheel of the No. 38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports. The move reunited him with former KBM teammates and aligned his career with Ford’s national programs. He started the 2025 season with a sixth-place finish at Daytona and added wins at Bristol and North Wilkesboro.

Smith has also expanded his role at Front Row Motorsports into part-time competition in the NASCAR Cup Series, piloting the No. 36 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. In 2025, he sat 60th in Cup points after attempting to qualify for the Daytona 500 with MBM Motorsports, while continuing to focus on his primary Truck Series duties and select O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events with Hettinger Racing.

Driving Style and Strengths

Smith is recognized for his aggressive short-track racing style, sharp race craft in dirty air, and ability to deliver under must-win playoff pressure. He has shown particular strength on intermediate tracks like Richmond and Phoenix, where he has earned multiple wins across the Truck and Xfinity Series. His willingness to make bold late-race moves, such as the contact that won the 2021 Bristol Truck race, has become a defining part of his on-track identity.

Notable Races and Milestones

Among Smith’s signature moments are his 2021 Bristol Truck Series win, his 2022 Championship 4 appearance at Phoenix, his 2023 and 2024 Xfinity wins at Richmond, and his 2025 Truck wins at Bristol and North Wilkesboro. He has also added marquee late-model victories like the 2018 SpeedFest 200 and the 2021 Snowball Derby to his trophy case, marking him as one of the most versatile young drivers in American motorsports.

Chandler Smith Career Wins

Chandler Smith has built an impressive résumé across NASCAR’s national touring series, with a combined 11 national-series wins between the Craftsman Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. His victories span short tracks, intermediate ovals, and superspeedways, reflecting the breadth of his talent.

Craftsman Truck Series Highlights

Smith has scored 8 career wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, highlighted by his breakthrough 2021 victory at Bristol Motor Speedway and his 2022 triumphs at Las Vegas and Pocono. He added wins at Bristol and North Wilkesboro in 2025 and opened 2026 with a victory at Daytona, the most recent milestone in his Truck Series career.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond the Truck Series, Smith has 3 wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with victories at Richmond in both 2023 and 2024, plus a 2024 win at Phoenix. He also collected 10 ARCA Menards Series wins, including the 2018 Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Madison and the 2022 Reese’s 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, along with the 2018 SpeedFest 200 and the 2021 Snowball Derby in late-model competition.

Chandler Smith Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Chandler Smith comes from a close-knit family in Talking Rock, Georgia, where racing has long been a shared passion. His father, Mike Smith, owns Smith General Contracting, the family business that has sponsored much of Chandler’s racing career from his early bandolero days through his national-series campaigns. Mike’s support and business backing have given Chandler one of the most stable grassroots-to-progression paths of any young driver of his generation.

Personal Life

Smith proposed to his girlfriend, Kenzie Grams, on New Year’s Day 2021, and the two were married on July 17, 2021. On August 4, 2022, they welcomed their first son, Chandler Smith Jr. The family has continued to be a central part of Chandler’s life as he balances full-time racing with his role as a husband and father, often crediting Kenzie and their son as his biggest motivation on and off the track.

2025 Season Performance

Smith’s 2025 season is highlighted by his full-time return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Front Row Motorsports. Driving the No. 38 Ford F-150, he opened the year with a sixth-place finish at Daytona and quickly found victory lane with wins at Bristol and North Wilkesboro. Those results helped him sit eighth in the Truck Series standings and marked a strong first full season in Ford equipment.

Beyond the Truck Series, Smith has continued to expand his schedule with part-time efforts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Hettinger Racing and select NASCAR Cup Series starts. He attempted to make the 2025 Daytona 500 with MBM Motorsports’ Garage 66 Ford entry but failed to qualify after a hard crash in his Duel. Heading into the second half of the season, his primary focus remains the Truck Series playoffs, where he is positioned as a strong contender for the Championship 4 at Phoenix.