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. A graduate of Toyota Racing Development’s TD2 driver development system, Smith has built a reputation as a versatile competitor across stock car racing’s major national series.
Born and raised in Talking Rock, Georgia, Smith began racing at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks of short track and late model competition. He captured national attention early and has since competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and has attempted entries in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Early Life and Background
Chandler Smith was born on June 26, 2002, in Talking Rock, Georgia. He grew up in a household connected to the construction industry through his father, Mike Smith, who owns Smith General Contracting, a business that has sponsored much of Chandler’s racing career. This early family support provided a foundation for his entry into competitive motorsports.
Smith attended Pickens High School in Jasper, Georgia, and was part of the graduating class of 2020. From a young age, he showed a strong interest in racing, beginning his competitive career in Bandolero cars. In 2013, he won the INEX Bandolero Bandit National Championship after recording two wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway, one at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and one at Bethel Motor Speedway.
Path to NASCAR
Smith continued his ascent through the short track ranks and earned the Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year award in 2017. His performances on the Super Late Model circuit, including a victory in the 2018 SpeedFest 200, established him as one of the top young talents in the southeastern short track scene.
In 2018, Smith made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, where he won the pole and led 51 laps before finishing fifth. Later that year, he scored his first ARCA victory at Madison International Speedway and added a second win at Salem Speedway. These results helped him secure a multi-race deal with Venturini Motorsports and eventually led to his entry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2019.
Chandler Smith Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Smith’s national-level career began in the ARCA Menards Series with Venturini Motorsports. After a strong debut season in 2018, he returned to Venturini in 2019 for eleven races and again in 2020 for thirteen races in the No. 20. Because he was under eighteen during parts of this period, his schedule was limited to short track events, with Ryan Repko handling the larger tracks such as Daytona. Ten of his 2020 ARCA races counted toward the inaugural Sioux Chief Showdown championship.
On February 21, 2019, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that Smith would run a four-race NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule in the team’s Nos. 46 and 51 Toyota Tundras. In his very first Truck Series start at Iowa Speedway, he captured the pole after qualifying was rained out, led the opening 55 laps, and finished eighth. He returned to KBM part-time in 2020, with a schedule reshuffled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Smith was promoted to a full-time Truck Series schedule for 2021, driving the No. 18 for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He earned the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year award that season. Smith barely qualified for the playoffs in the tenth and final spot, but at Bristol Motor Speedway in a must-win situation, he won the race and advanced to the Round of 8. He added a win at Phoenix Raceway and finished eighth in the final standings.
In 2022, Smith opened the season with a 21st-place finish at Daytona International Speedway but quickly found victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway. During the playoffs, he won at Richmond Raceway and remained consistent enough to advance to the Championship 4. He finished third at Phoenix and ended the year third in the overall standings.
Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On October 5, 2022, Kaulig Racing announced that Smith would replace A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 16 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2023. He began the season with a twelfth-place finish at Daytona and scored his first Xfinity Series win at Richmond Raceway in the spring of 2023. Despite signing a multi-year contract, Smith parted ways with Kaulig Racing at the end of the season.
On December 13, 2023, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Smith would drive the No. 81 Toyota full-time in 2024 after the team purchased his contract from Kaulig Racing. Smith opened the year with a fifth-place finish at Daytona and later scored wins at Phoenix Raceway and Richmond Raceway. He was eliminated from the playoffs following the Round of 8 at Martinsville Speedway 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.
Front Row Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
On December 20, 2024, Smith announced his return to full-time Truck Series competition with Front Row Motorsports beginning in 2025. He drives the No. 38 Ford F-150 after the team expanded to two full-time trucks, with Layne Riggs moving to the No. 34. Smith opened the 2025 season with a sixth-place finish at Daytona and has since scored wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Smith also attempted to make the 2025 Daytona 500 in the NASCAR Cup Series with MBM Motorsports’ Garage 66 Ford entry but failed to qualify after a hard crash during Duel 1. His switch to Ford power marks a new chapter after years competing with Toyota, and his early Truck Series results suggest a strong campaign ahead.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith has built a reputation as a confident and aggressive driver with particular strength on short tracks and intermediate ovals. His ability to navigate late-race restarts and capitalize on must-win situations has been a defining trait, highlighted by his Bristol and Phoenix Truck Series victories. Smith’s willingness to take calculated risks has produced memorable moments and occasionally drawn attention for physical confrontations after the checkered flag.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Smith’s signature performances are his 2021 Bristol Truck Series win in a must-win playoff scenario, his 2021 Snowball Derby victory, and his 2022 Championship 4 appearance at Phoenix. His 2024 Xfinity wins at Phoenix and Richmond demonstrated his ability to win at multiple track types, and his return to Trucks with Front Row Motorsports has already produced victories at Bristol and North Wilkesboro.
Chandler Smith Career Wins
Across his career, Smith has recorded multiple wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, along with victories in Super Late Model and ARCA Menards Series competition. His win list includes short track triumphs, crown-jewel victories, and high-profile playoff performances.
Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Smith’s Truck Series victories span four seasons of competition. He earned his first series win at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021 and added a Phoenix Raceway victory later that same year. In 2022, he won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Richmond Raceway, the last of which secured his spot in the Championship 4. In 2025, driving for Front Row Motorsports, he has already captured wins at Bristol and North Wilkesboro.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the Truck Series, Smith scored his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Richmond Raceway in 2023 and added Xfinity victories at Phoenix Raceway and Richmond Raceway in 2024 with Joe Gibbs Racing. His earlier accomplishments include the 2018 SpeedFest 200 win, the 2021 Snowball Derby, and two ARCA Menards Series victories at Madison International Speedway and Salem Speedway in 2018.
Chandler Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Smith’s father, Mike Smith, owns Smith General Contracting, a family business that has sponsored much of Chandler’s racing career. This direct family involvement has provided a stable financial foundation and allowed Smith to focus on climbing the motorsports ladder from a young age.
Personal Life
Smith proposed to his girlfriend Kenzie Grams on New Year’s Day in 2021, and the two were married on July 17, 2021. On August 4, 2022, they welcomed their first son, Chandler Smith Jr. The couple announced in May 2023 that they were expecting their second son. In April 2025, it was publicly reported that Kenzie Grams filed for divorce.
2025 Season Performance
Smith’s 2025 campaign centers on his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Front Row Motorsports in the No. 38 Ford F-150. He opened the year with a sixth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway and quickly found momentum with a victory at Bristol Motor Speedway. A subsequent win at North Wilkesboro Speedway further strengthened his position in the playoff picture.
Beyond his full-time Truck Series duties, Smith attempted to make the 2025 Daytona 500 with MBM Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series but failed to qualify after a crash in Duel 1. The early results with Front Row Motorsports suggest a strong season ahead as he continues to build chemistry with his new team and Ford manufacturer partnership.
Looking forward, Smith’s blend of short track strength and intermediate-track speed positions him as a contender for the Craftsman Truck Series playoffs and a potential shot at the Championship 4. His switch from Toyota to Ford also marks a fresh chapter in his career and an opportunity to cement himself as a regular winner in the series.