Chandler Smith Bio
Chandler Michael Smith Sr., born on June 26, 2002, is an American professional stock car racing driver. 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. A former member of the Toyota Racing Development program, Smith has built a reputation as a versatile short-track racer with championship-caliber results across multiple NASCAR national series.
Since his earliest days in quarter-midgets and Bandoleros, Smith has progressed through every major rung of the stock car ladder, from regional Super Late Model events to full-time national touring competition. He is widely recognized as one of the promising young talents to emerge from the Georgia short-track scene in the early 2020s.
Early Life and Background
Chandler Michael Smith Sr. was born on June 26, 2002, in Talking Rock, Georgia, a small community in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. He grew up in a racing-friendly household, with his father, Mike Smith, owning Smith General Contracting, a business that has long sponsored much of his son’s racing endeavors. The Smith family’s involvement in construction and racing provided Chandler with both financial backing and a deep grassroots connection to short-track motorsports from a very young age.
Smith attended Pickens High School in nearby Jasper, Georgia, where he was part of the graduating class of 2020. While balancing his studies, he traveled the Southeast competing in Bandolero, Legends, and Late Model events, often missing school days for races. His early focus on short-track competition laid the foundation for the disciplined race craft that would later define his NASCAR career.
Path to NASCAR
Smith’s path to the national NASCAR ranks began in 2013, when he captured the INEX Bandolero Bandit National Championship, winning features at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Bethel Motor Speedway. He continued developing through the Southern Super Series, earning the 2017 Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year award. By 2018, he was ready to test himself against bigger machinery, and he made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, where he won the pole after qualifying was rained out and finished fifth.
His first ARCA victory came at Madison International Speedway later that season, and he added a second win at Salem Speedway. These performances caught the attention of Kyle Busch Motorsports, which signed Smith to a partial NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule for 2019. He made an immediate impact, capturing the pole and leading laps in his very first Truck Series start at Iowa Speedway.
Chandler Smith Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Smith launched his national touring career with Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series. Across three seasons with the team, he earned ten ARCA victories, thirty top-ten finishes, and ten poles, establishing himself as one of the most consistent young drivers in the series. Age restrictions limited his starts at the larger tracks, so he focused on short-track events where his experience gave him a clear edge.
In 2019, Smith expanded into the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports, running a four-race schedule in the team’s Nos. 46 and 51 Toyota Tundras. He returned to KBM in 2020 for a revised part-time slate impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These partial schedules gave him the racing experience and exposure needed to earn a full-time Truck Series ride the following season.
Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Smith was promoted to a full-time Truck Series ride for 2021, driving the No. 18 for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He earned the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year award and delivered a breakthrough victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in a must-win playoff race. He added a win at Phoenix Raceway and finished eighth in the final series standings despite a late-season push for the Championship 4.
In 2022, Smith elevated his game with victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Richmond Raceway. His consistency carried him into the Championship 4 at Phoenix, where he finished third in the race and third in the overall standings, cementing his status as one of the premier young talents in the series.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity) Tenure (2023–2024)
Smith moved to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2023 with Kaulig Racing, replacing A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 16. He captured his first Xfinity victory at Richmond Raceway and posted multiple strong runs before parting ways with the team at season’s end. For 2024, Joe Gibbs Racing bought out his contract, and Smith joined the No. 81 Toyota, scoring wins at Phoenix Raceway and Richmond Raceway. He advanced to the Round of 8 in the playoffs before being eliminated at Martinsville Speedway. He parted ways with Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the season.
Cup Series (2023–Present)
Smith made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2023 at Richmond Raceway with Kaulig Racing, finishing seventeenth. He attempted the 2023 Daytona 500 with the team but failed to qualify. Subsequent Daytona 500 qualifying attempts in 2025 with MBM Motorsports and in 2026 with Front Row Motorsports also ended short of the field, the latter due to a hard crash in Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway.
Front Row Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
On December 20, 2024, Smith announced his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a full-time basis with Front Row Motorsports, driving the No. 38 Ford F-150. He opened the 2025 season with a sixth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway and quickly found victory lane with wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway. In addition to his Truck duties, Smith runs part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Hettinger Racing and part-time in the Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports, making him one of the busiest multi-series drivers in the garage.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith is best known for his short-track instincts and ability to build momentum through long green-flag runs. His late-race race craft, particularly his willingness to use the bumper and his comfort in tight, abrasive corners, has made him especially dangerous on tracks like Bristol, Richmond, and North Wilkesboro. Crew chief communication and pit-road execution have played an increasing role in his success as he has stepped into larger equipment at Front Row Motorsports.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Smith’s signature moments are his must-win Truck Series victory at Bristol in 2021, his trio of wins during the 2022 Truck Series campaign, and his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win at Richmond in 2023. His 2021 Snowball Derby victory further cemented his reputation as one of the top Super Late Model talents of his generation.
Chandler Smith Career Wins
Across national NASCAR competition, Smith has accumulated eight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories and three NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins, along with ten ARCA Menards Series triumphs. His victories span ovals of every shape, including short tracks, intermediates, and one of NASCAR’s most demanding road courses.
Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Smith’s first Truck Series win came in dramatic fashion at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021, where he advanced in the playoffs with a must-win performance. He added wins at Phoenix in 2021, Las Vegas and Pocono in 2022, and Bristol and North Wilkesboro in 2025. He has tallied fifty-nine top-ten finishes and one pole across his Truck Series career.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Smith’s first win came at Richmond in 2023, followed by victories at Phoenix and Richmond in 2024. He has recorded thirty-six top-ten finishes and six poles in the series.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond NASCAR, Smith captured the 2018 SpeedFest 200 and the 2021 Snowball Derby, two of the most prestigious Super Late Model races in the country. His ARCA Menards Series résumé includes ten wins, thirty top-ten finishes, and ten poles.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 8 | 59 | 1 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 3 | 36 | 6 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 10 | 30 | 10 |
Chandler Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Smith comes from a close-knit family rooted in Talking Rock, Georgia. His father, Mike Smith, owns Smith General Contracting and has been a constant presence in his son’s career, both as a sponsor and as a supporter. The family business model has allowed Chandler to focus on racing from an early age while maintaining strong ties to his hometown community.
Personal Life
Smith became engaged to his girlfriend, Kenzie Grams, on New Year’s Day in 2021, and the couple 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 his life as he has balanced a demanding multi-series NASCAR schedule.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season has marked a strong comeback year for Smith with Front Row Motorsports. After finishing sixth at Daytona, he quickly returned to victory lane at Bristol Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway, vaulting himself into the championship conversation. Through the early portion of the season, he has been a consistent threat on short tracks and intermediates alike.
Smith’s expanded role with Front Row Motorsports, paired with part-time runs in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Hettinger Racing and select Cup Series starts, has given him more seat time than ever before. That added rhythm appears to be paying off in the form of cleaner pit stops, sharper qualifying efforts, and stronger race-trim pace on worn tires.
Looking ahead, Smith’s playoff positioning will hinge on his consistency at the larger intermediate tracks, where he has historically been less dominant than on short tracks. If he can maintain his short-track form while improving his intermediate results, a deep run in the Truck Series playoffs and a continued foothold in the Cup Series are realistic goals for the remainder of the year.
