Chandler Smith Bio
Chandler Michael Smith Sr., born June 26, 2002, is an American professional stock car racing driver competing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He currently drives the No. 38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports. A former member of Toyota Racing Development’s TD2 driver development system, Smith has built his reputation through short-track success and a steady climb across NASCAR’s national touring divisions.
Over the course of his young career, Smith has collected regional championships, a marquee Super Late Model victory, and multiple wins in both the Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. His path from Georgia dirt and asphalt to national series competition has made him one of the more closely followed prospects of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Chandler Michael Smith Sr. was born on June 26, 2002, in Talking Rock, Georgia. He grew up in nearby Jasper, Georgia, where he attended Pickens High School and graduated as part of the class of 2020. Smith’s father, Mike Smith, owns Smith General Contracting, a business that has sponsored much of Chandler’s racing endeavors throughout his career.
Smith’s introduction to racing came at a young age through grassroots short-track competition. In 2013, he won the INEX Bandolero Bandit National Championship, collecting victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Bethel Motor Speedway. That early success established him as a promising talent within the Georgia racing community and laid the groundwork for his transition into late model and national touring series competition.
Path to NASCAR
Smith continued to develop through Super Late Model and ARCA Menards Series competition during his mid-teens. In 2017, he earned the Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year, signaling his readiness for bigger stages. He made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2018 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, where he captured the pole after qualifying was rained out and led 51 laps before finishing fifth. Later that year, he won at Madison International Speedway and Salem Speedway, prompting Venturini Motorsports to bring him back for an expanded 2019 schedule.
In 2018, Smith also captured the SpeedFest 200, one of the premier Super Late Model events in the Southeast. On February 21, 2019, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that Smith would run a four-race NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule in 2019, marking his entry into NASCAR’s national series ranks. He immediately impressed by capturing the pole at Iowa in his first Truck Series start and leading the opening 55 laps before finishing eighth.
Chandler Smith Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Smith’s first two Truck Series seasons were split between part-time runs with Kyle Busch Motorsports and continued ARCA Menards Series competition with Venturini Motorsports. In 2020, his Truck schedule was reshuffled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he continued to gain experience at tracks such as Texas, Bristol, and Phoenix. At the same time, he ran thirteen ARCA races, ten of which counted toward the new Sioux Chief Showdown, keeping him in contention for that separate championship.
Alongside his NASCAR development, Smith added another headline-making win in 2021 by capturing the Snowball Derby, one of the most prestigious Super Late Model events in the country. Those combined accomplishments positioned him for a full-time promotion within the Toyota development pipeline.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Smith was promoted to a full-time Truck Series schedule in 2021, driving the No. 18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He captured Rookie of the Year honors and barely qualified for the playoffs in the tenth and final spot despite a disqualification at Watkins Glen. In a must-win situation at Bristol, Smith delivered with a victory over Grant Enfinger and teammate John Hunter Nemechek. He added a late-season win at Phoenix and finished eighth in the final standings.
In 2022, Smith opened the year with a 21st-place finish at Daytona but quickly found form. He scored wins at Las Vegas and Pocono to lock into the playoffs, then added a Richmond victory during the postseason. A strong closing run carried him into the Championship 4, where he finished third at Phoenix and third in the overall standings.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On October 5, 2022, Kaulig Racing announced that Smith would replace A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 16 for the 2023 Xfinity Series season. He opened with a 12th-place finish at Daytona and two months later scored his first Xfinity win at Richmond Raceway. Despite signing a multi-year deal, Smith parted ways with Kaulig at the end of the year.
On December 13, 2023, Joe Gibbs Racing announced it had bought out Smith’s contract and signed him to drive the No. 81 Toyota full-time in 2024. He opened with a fifth-place run at Daytona and added wins at Phoenix and Richmond. He was eliminated from the playoffs in the Round of 8 at Martinsville and was fined US$10,000 for slapping Cole Custer in a post-race altercation. At season’s end, Smith parted ways with Joe Gibbs Racing.
NASCAR Cup Series Attempts (2023, 2025)
On January 18, 2023, Kaulig Racing announced Smith would attempt to make his Cup Series debut in the 2023 Daytona 500 with a four-race schedule. He failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 after finishing 18th in Duel 1 but made his official Cup debut at Richmond, finishing 17th. On January 22, 2025, MBM Motorsports announced Smith would attempt the 2025 Daytona 500 in its Garage 66 Ford entry, but he failed to qualify after a hard crash in Duel 1.
Front Row Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
On December 20, 2024, Smith announced his return to the Truck Series full-time, driving the No. 38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports beginning in 2025. The team expanded to two full-time trucks, with Layne Riggs moving to the No. 34. Smith opened the season with a sixth-place finish at Daytona and quickly added victories at Bristol and North Wilkesboro to establish early momentum.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith has built his reputation on short-track race craft and short-run speed, with particular strength on intermediate ovals and abrasive surfaces. His background in Super Late Model racing gives him a strong feel for tire conservation and lap traffic, and his Truck Series results at Bristol, Richmond, and Phoenix highlight his ability to execute in high-pressure situations.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature moments include his 2021 Bristol Truck Series win under must-win playoff pressure, the 2021 Snowball Derby triumph, and his first Xfinity Series victory at Richmond in 2023. His third-place finish in the 2022 Truck Series standings remains his deepest championship run to date.
Chandler Smith Career Wins
Chandler Smith has accumulated verified victories across the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, along with major Super Late Model and regional titles. His win list reflects steady progression from short tracks to national touring series competition.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Smith’s verified Truck Series wins include Bristol and Phoenix in 2021, Las Vegas, Pocono, and Richmond in 2022, and Bristol and North Wilkesboro early in the 2025 season. His 2021 rookie campaign produced the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year award.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights
In the Xfinity Series, Smith’s verified wins came at Richmond in 2023 with Kaulig Racing, followed by Phoenix and Richmond in 2024 driving the No. 81 for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond NASCAR, Smith captured the 2013 INEX Bandolero Bandit National Championship, the 2018 SpeedFest 200, the 2021 Snowball Derby, and multiple ARCA Menards Series victories with Venturini Motorsports. He was also named the 2017 Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year.
Chandler Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Smith’s father, Mike Smith, is the owner of Smith General Contracting and has long sponsored his son’s racing endeavors. The family is based in the Jasper and Talking Rock area of Georgia, where Chandler attended Pickens High School.
Personal Life
Smith proposed to his girlfriend Kenzie Grams on New Year’s Day 2021, and the couple married on July 17, 2021. Their son, Chandler Smith Jr., was born on August 4, 2022. The couple announced in May 2023 that they were expecting a second son. Public records later confirmed that Kenzie Grams filed for divorce in April 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Smith entered the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Front Row Motorsports after being announced as the driver of the No. 38 Ford F-150 in December 2024. He opened the year with a sixth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway, immediately establishing consistency in the new Ford program.
Early-season momentum quickly followed, with Smith capturing wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway. The Bristol victory added to a growing list of short-track wins for the No. 38 team and confirmed Smith’s continued strength on abrasive ovals.
With the playoff picture still unfolding, Smith’s combination of Front Row Motorsports’ expanding two-truck operation and his own short-track pedigree positions him as a regular contender for race wins and a potential Championship 4 appearance at Phoenix.
