18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. I never would have dreamed of being able to do it, but I had no choice. Smith would lead the initial 55 laps and finished 8th in the race. A 35th place finish at Las Vegas and a 19th place finish at Talladega cost Smith a chance at the Championship 4. FS: And do you live part of the year in Boise and spend the winters in Sun Valley? var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999); (2) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 178. 46 and 51 Toyota Tundras. 1, 2023 7:53 pm7h ago, Iowa Prep Sports May. [13] Smith made his official Cup debut at Richmond, finishing 17th. It's a dream come true," Smith said. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of great people around me. He forwarded the article to Jordan as a joke, saying, Hey, looks like were partners. 'https://ads.fasterskier.com/www/delivery/ajs.php':'http://ads.fasterskier.com/www/delivery/ajs.php'); Sammy Smith will run the full Xfinity schedule in the No. Our monetization model empowers Citizen Journalists to report the news in local and national markets. High school senior Sammy Smith made the most of the fastest car in Saturdays United Rentals 200, becoming the youngest NASCAR Xfinity Series winner Phoenix Raceway at age 18 in Avondale, Ariz. Of course, he can't legally drive to Hawkeye Downs, which has seen NASCAR drivers Landon Cassill and Joey Gase take to the banked oval quarter and half-mile tracks, but Smith's lack of a driver's license did not stop him from driving the No. 37. All Rights Reserved. In 2020, he emerged victorious on the first night of World Series of Asphalt racing driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. In 37 starts, won 15 races (40.5%). Linwood Shaw Announced as Driver of The 3rd Quarter! But then, come four or five in the afternoon, Hamlins dad hat is back on as he drops Taylor off at her extracurricularsdance, singing lessons and acting school. Without all of these guys, I wouldnt be here.. My crew chief doesn't have anything for me. Im incredibly grateful for Pauls help, and the support from Salomon. 1 WINS. So you can add single dad to his responsibilities, which also includes driving. My track season was also cut short because of an injury but Im healthy now. [CDATA[ I was selected as an alternate for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) tournament this spring. Read Our Newsletter Destination:Excellence Newsletter, Email Newsletter Subscribe to our Newsletter, Employee Owner of the First Quarter: Robert Pease. Hopefully the oldest one doesnt bring any of the bad habits with the youngest one. In 2022, Sammy returned to the ARCA Menards Series platform with Kyle Busch Motorsports, competed with Donnie Wilson Racing in super late models, and ran nine races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Sammy Smith competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. * Most laps led. 0 POLES. John Hunter Nemechek recovered from a restart penaltydipping below the yellow line on the apron before the start/finish lineto come home sixth. I started racing when I was 8 years old and remember Harrold taking me to the go-kart track teaching me a lot and having a lot of fun. document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r); I initially got involved in nordic skiing because of my older sister. The red hot 17 year-old driver just captured a big money payday in the American Freedom 300 at Jennerstown Speedway in Pennsylvania this past weekend. At 18, rising racing star Sammy Smith is taking his career as it comes and looking for another shot at the Milwaukee Mile At 18, Toyota-backed Sammy Smith is more . (Cliff Jette/The Gazette). Smith's victory is no fluke, however. Meanwhile, dont let Mollys age fool you. SS: I was really fortunate to have some great results at last years World Juniors, and I want to continue to build off of that for next season. SS: I initially got involved in nordic skiing because of my older sister. That was a good restart at the end, Truex said. 7,408 Followers, 130 Posts - Driver for @toyotaracing @joegibbsracing #TeamToyota Sammy Smith is represented by RSMG. John Bradford Sr. added that racing in North Carolina and Atlanta has helped Smith. I go to Boise High School for the fall and spring, then I move to Sun Valley for skiing for the winters and while Im there, I go to the. By 2021, Smith made his ARCA Menards Series East debut behind the wheel of the No. Sammy Smith: I actually just finished my Sophomore year of high school (our school got out last week), so I will be a junior in the fall. 1, 2023 6:00 am21h ago, Staff Columnists Apr. In 2005, Mr. Annetts son, Michael, took to the track with TMCs support, finding his footing in the ARCA Racing Series. Smith also became the youngest Xfinity Series winner at Phoenix. Smith used his bumper in an attempt at a winning move, but his contact with Gray allowed Gutirrez to pass both in one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2021 season. By: Tadd Haislop In February, when Joe Gibbs Racing announced Sammy Smith would pilot the No. Margin of Victory: 0.641 Seconds. Average Speed of Race Winner: 82.079 mph. 51 JBL Tundra", "Chandler Smith to compete for 2021 NASCAR Truck title with KBM", "Chandler Smith disqualified after No. Like any 12-year-old might, Sammy Smith had an answer for his dad. Hamlin wakes up eight-year-old Taylor and three-year-old Molly, then gets them ready for school. The timing seemed perfect as NASCAR is evolving and embracing social change more and more. So you can add single dad to his responsibilities, which also includes driving for Joe Gibbs Racing and being a co-owner of 23XI Racing, another Cup Series team. Did you follow Michael Annetts career closely? If not for his 18th-place run at Iowa Speedway in July the result of a cut tire in another combo event with the ARCA Menards Series Smith might have logged top-five finishes in all eight East Series races in 2021. The opportunity to own my own racing team in partnership with my friend, Denny Hamlin, and to have Bubba Wallace driving for us, is very exciting for me. 35. Sure. In 2019, Sammy turned his attention to Late Model racing, finding success in both Pro and Super Late Models with multiple teams. Sammy started racing at local tracks throughout Iowa, rising through the ranks of go-karts and legends cars before moving to Late Model racing in 2019. Christopher Bell (2018), Busch (2019), Brandon Jones (2020), Daniel Hemric (2021) and Ty Gibbs (2022) previously celebrated at the mile-long track in the desert. //]]>-->, Q&A with New Faces on the U.S. 20 for the third year in a row in 2020, with him in the car for 13 races while Ryan Repko would join the team that year to drive it in most of the races at the larger tracks such as Daytona where Smith was not able to compete at due to being under 18. But it seems like that is precisely what Sammy Smith will do in 2023. 36. Chandler Michael Smith Sr. (born June 26, 2002) is an American professional stock car racing driver. The Gazette has been informing Iowans with in-depth local news coverage and insightful analysis for 140 years. Although during the summer I am often gone a lot, and we frequently go up to Sun Valley. He was referring to his driving career, but he could just as easily be describing fatherhood. You have to see the fruits of your labor, Hamlin says. . He had picked up 31 victories at eight different tracks over three years competing in Legend Cars. TMC Transportation has a longstanding presence in the racing world, thanks to Founder Harrold Annetts passion for motorsports. I used to go to a bunch of his races and really have a lot of good memories, one that I remember well is when he won at Daytona in 2019. I go to Boise High School for the fall and spring, then I move to Sun Valley for skiing for the winters and while Im there, I go to the (Sun Valley) Community School. He proved to have the passion and the talent necessary to compete for wins in the races he ran for us in 2022," said Steve DeSouza,. var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'? if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ','; The talented prospect scored his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Phoenix Raceway on March 11. To help fans get to know these new(er) faces, FasterSkier is doing a series of interviews, providing insights into the factors that have contributed to development, progress, and growth for these athletes last season. On Sept. 21, 2020, Jordan and Hamlin announced that they formed a single-car team and signedBubba Wallace toa multiyear deal to drive for them. 1, 2023 7:39 pm7h ago, State Government May. For soccer, I am actually in the US U17 Womens Youth National Team training pool. Sammy Smith put JGR in Victory Lane in Phoenix for the 16th time in the second-tier series and for the sixth consecutive year -- with six different drivers. Right now, Jordan serves as the principal owner while Hamlin continues to compete for Joe Gibbs Racing. To support Michaels racing endeavors, Mr. Annett turned to Kurt Smith and his team at Rising Star Management Group (RSMG) to help manage the TMC Racing program. The team, though, does have an alliance with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing. A conversation about Smith's progression between Steve Desouza, executive vice president of JGR's Xfinity Series program, and Kurt Smith (Sammy's father), president of Rising Star Management. Justin Allgaier, who won the races first two stages, crashed hard on Lap 178 after contact from JR Motorsports teammate Brandon Jones and Sam Hunt Racings Kaz Grala. I was there and got to share his win in victory lane with him! Hill leads the series standings by 30 points over second-place Nemechek. SS: Im most excited about the incredible opportunities that come with being named to the U.S. Ski Team. It makes you vulnerable, he says. Racing-reference.info is part of the NASCAR Digital Media Network. In a part-time role with JGR, Truex matched his career-best finish after restarting seventh on Lap 186. You will begin to receive our Daily Sports updates. 1, 2023 6:23 pm9h ago, State Government May. [4] In just his first truck series start at Iowa, he would capture the pole after qualifying would be rained out with the starting order based on owner's points. Soccer and nordic are definitely my two primary sports. [14], Smith attended Pickens High School in Jasper, Georgia and was a part of the graduating class of 2020.[15]. I can already feel the great sense of community and support from the more experienced skiers and it makes me so excited to train and race alongside them in the future. if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used); From early days bundled in the pulk, to learning to ski as soon as she could walk, to junior racing, a few seasons of collegiate racing, and then to coaching, she has experienced the ski world in many forms. 12. Once Hamlin drops the kids off at school, he focuses on Joe Gibbs Racing on Mondays. He does his workouts and meets with the team in the afternoon, analyzing data and trying to give his crew chief more information. On February 4, 2022, they announced they were expecting a child. CEDAR RAPIDS - Sammy Smith won his first INEX Legends feature at Hawkeye Downs on Friday night. yourNEWS is a hyper-local social news and advertising platform. During the playoffs, he won at Richmond and stayed consistent enough to make the Championship 4. The idea was born about a year ago when Hamlin, who turned 40 last November, got a brief glance into what his postracing life might look like when the COVID-19 pandemic put the NASCAR season on hold. At age 10, Smith, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, started racing in Legend Cars, amassing 31 wins in three years of competition. 16 in 2023 in the Xfinity Series, as Allmendinger would return to a full-time schedule in the Cup Series. Sammy Smith, a Toyota Racing Development driver from Johnston, Iowa, is the hottest rookie prospect in NASCAR. Alongside supporting Michaels career, Mr. Annett and TMC took an interest in Kurts son Sammy Smith who found himself starting to race go-karts at the age of 8. Driver for #TeamToyota Donnie Wilson Motorsports / Joe Gibbs Racing Smith would return to Venturini part-time in the No. He had to give up his senior year of high school to make it happen. Does he wish she were a little more into sports, maybe played golf like her old man? In his fourth ARCA start, Smith dominated at Madison International Speedway and won his first race after leading the most laps. He responded with, Well, its fake. The up-and-coming driver is already turning heads and is continuing to make a name for himself. He was 14 years old at the time. 17. Through the charity we aim to make a positive impact on less privileged youth in our area. Creed got help from Kaulig Racing teammates Busch and Chandler Smith, who tangled on the last lap while racing for fourth. In 2013, Smith won the bandoleros national championship after two wins at Atlanta, one at Charlotte and one at Bethel Motor Speedway. Crewed by John Bradford Sr. and John Bradford Jr, who said they fell in with the Smiths through friends of friends by being in the right place at the right time, know the driver they are crewing for, who is well under half as old as the senior John Bradford, could be something special. [1] Smith made his debut in the CARS Tour in May 2019, driving the No. And once we were in Norway, he made sure I was testing the appropriate skis, and helped me choose which pair I was racing on each day. JR Motorsports Josh Berry spun off the bumper of Sam Mayer on Lap 84 and fought back to finish eighth. Going into World Juniors, I had a lot of new skis from Salomon, and I didnt really know a lot about them, but fortunately Paul was incredibly helpful. tournament this spring. SS: Currently I cross-country ski, play soccer, run track and cross-country, and freestyle ski. On September 15, 2018, Smith dominated at Salem Speedway, leading nearly every lap to win his second race. 'I belong here': R. Truex wins first NASCAR race, Hendrick to drivers after injuries: Take it easy, Bowman out at least 3 races after sprint car crash, Busch barely makes finish in OT win at Talladega, Burton wins Xfinity Series crash-fest at Talladega, Hamlin claims first superspeedway pole at Dega, Harvick was once NASCAR's punk kid. 2023 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved. He drags himself out of bed as many drivers are probably still sleeping off Sundays race, but the NASCAR veteran has a long day ahead thanks to his two daughters. Sammy Smith: 2021 ARCA Menards Series East champion profile. Sammy Smith became the fourth-youngest driver to win an Xfinity Series race when he took the checkered flag at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday. May 2, 2023 | Featured, Top Stories, U.S. Pfizers own clinical trial documents show the pharmaceutical giant knew as early as 2021 that its COVID injection was not safe for pregnant women. 136 Corporate Park Dr. Suite F. Mooresville, NC 28117. in Smith entered the final corner of the last lap of his ARCA Menards debut running second to Taylor Gray. Their son Chandler Smith Jr. was born on August 4, 2022. I just try to prepare myself as best as I can for the race coming up and eat healthy before the race. Smith was the third-fastest junior racing with the senior women, behind Sydney Palmer-Leger (University of Utah) and Kate Oldham (Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club). He would have won all three races to open the season had Max Gutirrez not stolen the checkered flag in the opener at Floridas New Smyrna Speedway. Many experts consider Smith to be the driver to look out for as his talent and drive are undeniable. 2023 sees Smith moving to the NASCAR Xfinity Series on a full-time basis piloting the No. Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 26 Mins, 12 Secs. An eight-year-old definitely requires a lot of attention, Hamlin says with a laugh, and is an absolute handful. If it involves singing or dancing, Taylor is all over it. Of the 22 athletes named to the team this season, six were not on the previous years roster, either newly named or renamed: Michael Earnhart, Walker Hall, Zak Ketterson, Will Koch, Finn OConnell, and Sammy Smith. FS: I read that you and your siblings started a charity during the pandemic, can you tell me a little about that? When I was five, my parents had signed my sister up for SVSEFs devo program, and naturally I wanted to do everything she was doing, so I began to pick up the sport as well. I think when you are put in an environment where you are surrounded by people who share a common passion and common goals, naturally you improve. In this installment, we talk to Sammy Smith about her participation and success in numerous sports, the charity she and her siblings founded during COVID, and her nomination to the U.S. 18 car, Joe Gibbs Racing announced Monday. Sammy Smith CARS Late Model Stock Tour Results (top 10s) Click on the Race to see the complete results for that race. He gets dinner and eats with Molly before picking up Taylor again. [8] At Bristol, in a must-win situation to make the Round of 8 in the playoffs, Smith won, beating Grant Enfinger and teammate John Hunter Nemechek as Nemechek overshot turn 1 and race leader Sheldon Creed was put into the wall by Smith and overshot turn 1 and spun finishing 19th.