Garrett Smithley

Garrett Smithley Bio

Garrett Kirk Smithley (born April 27, 1992) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 14 Chevrolet Camaro SS for SS-Green Light Racing with BRK Racing. Across his career, he has also made starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series.

A versatile part-time racer, Smithley has built a long career by working with multiple underfunded teams in NASCAR’s national touring divisions. He is widely known for the persistence required to keep a small team running through sponsorship outreach and self-promotion.

Early Life and Background

Smithley was born on April 27, 1992, in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, in the United States. He later moved with his family to Virginia at the age of six, and then to Georgia in the sixth grade, where he eventually attended McIntosh High School. Growing up, his father and both of his grandfathers were military servicemen, which shaped a family background rooted in service.

As a child, Smithley played baseball and football and was also active in dance and chorus. He became a theater participant at McIntosh High School and was even cast as the lead in a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He has credited a high school play and his drama experience with giving him the confidence needed to take chances in racing. He was also an active member of the Boy Scouts of America.

His early racing role models were Dale Jarrett and Carl Edwards. Smithley was drawn to Jarrett at a young age because of his paint scheme, which featured an American flag.

Path to NASCAR

Smithley began his racing career in 2007, his sophomore year in high school, driving Bandolero cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lanier National Speedway. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2008, marking an early sign of progress in grassroots short-track racing. He moved up to Legends car racing through a relationship with Peachtree City Golf Carts, a connection that helped him continue racing when his family did not have the money to advance from Bandoleros.

Following high school, Smithley was chosen to take part in the Richard Petty Driver Search, an opportunity that pointed him toward stock car racing’s national ladder. He made his first ARCA Menards Series start in 2013 at Pocono Raceway, driving for Derrike Cope in what was his first stock car race. He continued to gain experience with limited ARCA starts in 2014 and 2015, learning the demands of stock car competition before moving into NASCAR’s national series.

Garrett Smithley Career

Early Career (2007–2014)

From 2007 through 2012, Smithley built his foundation in Bandolero and Legends car competition across Georgia short tracks. His Bandolero Rookie of the Year honor in 2008 confirmed his early progress, and his Legends racing experience helped him develop the race craft he would later carry into stock cars.

Smithley transitioned to stock car racing in 2013, entering the ARCA Menards Series with Derrike Cope’s team. Across three ARCA starts in 2013, including his debut at Pocono, he learned the higher speeds and longer races of the division. He made one additional ARCA start in 2014 at Talladega for Wes Gonder, finishing 18th, and one more in 2015 with Rick Ware, a run that was hampered by engine problems.

Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2015–2023)

Smithley made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at his home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway, driving the No. 63 Chevrolet Silverado for MB Motorsports. He made three more starts in the 2015 season, earning a high finish of 14th at Michigan. His best Truck Series points result came in 2015, when he finished 36th in the standings.

He returned to Atlanta with MB Motorsports for his first start of 2016, finishing 18th. In March 2019, Smithley came back to the series at Texas Motor Speedway, driving the No. 42 for Chad Finley Racing, a weekend in which he also raced in the Cup Series, completing a goal of competing in all three NASCAR national series in one weekend. The following year, he signed with Niece Motorsports for the Charlotte Truck event. His final Truck Series start came at the 2023 Love’s RV Stop 250 at Talladega.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2015–Present)

Smithley made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the final race of 2015 at Homestead, driving the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro for Derrike Cope Racing, where he started 34th and finished 28th. On February 16, 2016, it was announced that he would join JD Motorsports in the No. 0 Chevrolet Camaro and compete for NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors. Although the original deal was for only three races, he ran every event except the PowerShares QQQ 300, finishing 18th in series points and cracking the top 15 at both restrictor plate races.

He returned to JD Motorsports full-time in 2017, scoring his first two Xfinity top-10 finishes at Daytona and Iowa and leading his first Xfinity lap at Talladega. In 2018, he opened the year with his first NASCAR top-five, a fifth-place run in the season opener, and he brought on Wayne Carroll as his crew chief. In 2020, he joined SS-Green Light Racing as part of an alliance with Rick Ware Racing, debuting with the team at Charlotte in the No. 07.

He made additional starts with DGM Racing and B. J. McLeod Motorsports in 2022, then rejoined JD Motorsports later that season in the No. 4 Chevrolet. On February 13, 2024, it was announced that he would run the No. 6 for JD in the first four races of the 2024 season, and he remained with the team until it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following the race at Pocono Raceway. He finished 2024 on a limited schedule, driving the No. 45 for Alpha Prime Racing and the No. 53 for Joey Gase Motorsports.

Cup Series Era (2018–2022)

Smithley made his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut at Michigan in 2018 with StarCom Racing in the No. 99, retiring after one lap due to a transmission issue. He later ran two more races that season, including one with Premium Motorsports. In 2019, he picked up a part-time ride with Spire Motorsports in the No. 77 Chevrolet, starting at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and he cracked the top 30 with a 28th-place finish at the 2019 Brickyard 400.

He returned to Rick Ware Racing for an expanded Cup Series schedule in 2020, beginning with the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas, while also making starts with Spire and B. J. McLeod Motorsports. In 2021, he remained with RWR on another part-time Cup schedule and attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500 for the first time, driving the No. 13 for MBM Motorsports with sponsor Trophy Tractor. In 2022, he ran a partial schedule in the No. 15 Ford for RWR, posting a best finish of 21st at Auto Club Speedway across six starts. His best Cup Series points result came in 2020, when he finished 48th in the standings.

SS GreenLight Racing Era (2024–Present)

On December 19, 2024, it was announced that Smithley would drive the SS-Green Light Racing No. 14 full-time during the 2025 season, and on January 24, the team announced that Beth and Randy Knighton, owners of Knight Fire Protection, would take an ownership stake in the car under the BRK Racing banner. On February 24, 2025, Smithley announced that he would step out of the car at Circuit of The Americas so that Carson Hocevar could replace him, a decision he said was made to help the car qualify and to support a successful season for his team.

On December 10, 2025, it was revealed that Smithley would return to SS-Green Light Racing with BRK Racing to drive their now-renumbered No. 0 for a majority of the season. The partnership continues a long working relationship between Smithley and small, sponsor-driven teams across NASCAR’s national series.

Driving Style and Strengths

Smithley is best known for his restrictor plate track experience, where his top-15 finishes at Talladega and Daytona highlight his comfort in heavy traffic. He has shown the ability to rebound from on-track incidents and adapt to changing team environments, a useful trait for a part-time driver. His work calling potential sponsors each week and managing a personal LLC for team finances also reflects a business-minded approach that has kept his career moving forward.

Notable Races and Milestones

His first NASCAR top-five finish came in the 2018 Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona, while his first Xfinity laps led occurred at Talladega later that same year. His 2019 Brickyard 400 result of 28th was his strongest Cup Series run with a top-tier team, and his 2020 best Cup finish of 48th in points remains a career benchmark. His 2021 Daytona 500 qualifying attempt with MBM Motorsports also marked a personal milestone.

Garrett Smithley Career Wins

Across his time in NASCAR’s three national series, Smithley has not recorded a victory in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Craftsman Truck Series, or ARCA Menards Series. His strongest results have come in the Xfinity Series, where he has posted six top-ten finishes.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights

Smithley has six top-ten finishes in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with his first two coming at Daytona and Iowa in 2017. His best series points result was an 18th-place finish in 2016 with JD Motorsports. He has also led laps in the series, including at Talladega, while driving for underfunded entries.

Other Wins and Performances

Smithley has not recorded a win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with his best result being a 14th-place finish at Michigan in 2015. In the ARCA Menards Series, his best points result was a 64th-place finish in 2013. His strongest short-track results came in Bandolero and Legends competition, where his 2008 Rookie of the Year award marked an early career highlight.

Garrett Smithley Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Smithley was raised in a family with a strong military tradition. His father and both of his grandfathers served in the armed forces. The family moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia when he was six and then to Georgia during his sixth-grade year, settling in the Peachtree City area where he later became involved in local short-track racing.

Personal Life

Outside of racing, Smithley has expressed interest in a post-driving career as a television announcer. He has also been active in business and sponsorship work, opening a personal LLC to handle the financial side of his racing efforts, including taxes. He has remained connected to his theater roots and has often credited his early acting experience as a foundation for the confidence he brings to the racetrack.

2025 Season Performance

Smithley began 2025 driving the No. 14 Chevrolet Camaro SS for SS-Green Light Racing with BRK Racing, a full-time effort announced in late 2024. Early in the season, he stepped out of the car at Circuit of The Americas so that Carson Hocevar could take over, a decision Smithley said was made to help the car qualify and to support his team’s long-term success. He returned to the seat at Phoenix and continued the season with the team.

Through the year, Smithley has remained a steady presence in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, navigating the challenges of running a small, sponsor-funded operation. His combination of on-track experience and off-track business work has helped keep the No. 14 competitive within the limits of an underfunded program. On December 10, 2025, the team announced that Smithley would return for a majority of the next season in a now-renumbered No. 0 entry, signaling continued momentum for the partnership heading into 2026.