David Smith Bio
David Smith (born March 28, 1950) is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 05 Toyota for Shockwave Motorsports. Smith is also the president of SHOCKWAVE Marine Suspension Seats, the company that backs his racing program.
Early Life and Background
David Smith was born on March 28, 1950, in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. Growing up on Vancouver Island placed him close to a vibrant motorsports culture on the Pacific Northwest racing scene. From an early age he developed a fascination with cars and mechanical work, which would shape the rest of his life.
Long before he turned to driving, Smith built his reputation by working on race cars. His early years were spent learning the craft of fabrication and chassis setup, skills that would later define both his business and his racing career. Those formative experiences in workshops gave him a deep technical foundation that few drivers possess.
Path to NASCAR
Smith’s introduction to NASCAR came not behind the wheel but behind the wrenches. During the 1970s he worked as a chassis builder for multiple teams and owners, including Ralph Moody, Gary Kershaw, Roy Smith, and Hershel McGriff. He remained in that role for roughly twenty years, building cars for some of the sport’s most respected names.
His mechanical background and decades of shop experience eventually led him toward driving on his own terms. In 2011, Smith was inducted into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame, recognizing his long contribution to the sport both on and off the track.
David Smith Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Smith transitioned from crew member to competitor when he entered the Trans-Am West Coast Championship. From 2017 to 2019, he competed in various events in the series, building his experience in actual race conditions.
His most notable Trans-Am result came in 2018, when he finished third in the standings after running five of the six scheduled events. That season demonstrated he could be competitive as a driver and laid the groundwork for his later move into NASCAR ladder events.
ARCA Menards Series West Breakthrough (2022–Present)
Smith made his ARCA Menards Series West debut in 2022 at Evergreen Speedway, driving the No. 05 Toyota for Shockwave Motorsports. He finished thirteenth after a crash with less than thirty laps remaining, then added two more starts that season at All American Speedway and Phoenix Raceway, with a best finish of eleventh at Roseville.
In 2023, Smith attempted to run the full ARCA Menards Series West schedule. He formed an alliance with Naake-Klauer Motorsports, even though Shockwave ran Toyotas while Naake-Klauer campaigned Fords. The partnership reflected Smith’s willingness to collaborate across manufacturer lines.
His 2025 season has been his strongest to date in the West Series, producing a best finish of seventh in the standings heading into the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix. He has also recorded three top-ten finishes across his ARCA West career, a meaningful marker of consistent performance.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith is known as a steady, mechanically minded driver who understands his cars at the component level. His decades as a chassis builder inform how he approaches setup changes, tire conservation, and long-run pace. That technical insight has been central to Shockwave Motorsports’ growth as a small, owner-driver operation.
Notable Races and Milestones
Smith’s milestone moments include his 2022 ARCA West debut at Evergreen Speedway, his third-place Trans-Am West Coast finish in 2018, and his 2011 induction into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Phoenix Raceway has been a recurring stop for him, hosting both his first and most recent ARCA West appearances.
David Smith Career Wins
Across his documented ARCA career, David Smith has not recorded a win in either the ARCA Menards Series or the ARCA Menards Series West. His results reflect a development-minded program focused on consistency and finishing races rather than chasing victory lane.
ARCA Menards Series West Highlights
Smith has made multiple ARCA Menards Series West starts since 2022, with his first race coming at the 2022 NAPA Auto Parts ARCA West 150 at Evergreen Speedway. His most recent race was the 2025 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway. He has accumulated three top-ten finishes in the series, with a best points finish of seventh in 2025.
Other Wins & Performances
In the Trans-Am West Coast Championship, Smith posted a third-place points result in 2018 while running five of the six scheduled events. That season remains the standout result of his driving career outside the ARCA ladder.
David Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Smith built his career around his own shop, Shockwave Motorsports, rather than a family racing operation. His professional network, however, includes longtime industry figures like Hershel McGriff and Ralph Moody, mentors from his chassis-building years who shaped his view of the sport.
Personal Life
Smith serves as president of SHOCKWAVE Marine Suspension Seats, the sponsor of his race program. The same company has also supported other drivers, including Derek Kraus in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In 2020, Smith was diagnosed with prostate cancer and received treatment in the United States before returning to competitive racing.
2025 Season Performance
David Smith’s 2025 ARCA Menards Series West campaign has been his most productive to date. Driving the No. 05 Toyota for Shockwave Motorsports, he posted a best points finish of seventh in the series standings. His three career top-ten finishes in ARCA West all contributed to that result.
His season opened with a focus on consistency, taking the car to the finish at each round and building chemistry with his Shockwave crew. The technical alliance formed in 2023 with Naake-Klauer Motorsports continued to provide strategic support, even with the manufacturer difference between Toyota and Ford.
Looking ahead, Smith closed the 2025 ARCA West schedule at the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway, the same track where his national ARCA Menards Series career began in 2023. His program remains owner-driven and sponsor-supported through SHOCKWAVE Marine Suspension Seats, and the momentum from 2025 suggests continued competitiveness in future ARCA West seasons.
