Garrett Smithley

Garrett Smithley
Smithley in 2024
Born	Garrett Kirk Smithley (1992-04-27) April 27, 1992 Ligonier, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NASCAR Cup Series career
76 races run over 5 years
2022 position	51st
Best finish	48th (2020)
First race	2018 FireKeepers Casino 400 (Michigan)
Last race	2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
180 races run over 10 years
Car no., team	No. 14 (SS-Green Light Racing)
2023 position	38th
Best finish	18th (2016)
First race	2015 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Last race	2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 5 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
10 races run over 5 years
2023 position	105th
Best finish	36th (2015)
First race	2015 Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 (Atlanta)
Last race	2023 Love's RV Stop 250 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
ARCA Menards Series career
5 races run over 3 years
Best finish	64th (2013)
First race	2013 Pocono ARCA 200 (Pocono)
Last race	2015 Lucas Oil 200 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 9, 2024.

Garrett Kirk Smithley (born April 27, 1992) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 14 Chevrolet Camaro for SS-Green Light Racing. He has also previously competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series.

Racing career

Smithley began his racing career in 2007, his sophomore year in high school, in Bandolero cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lanier National Speedway, and won the rookie of the year in 2008. He credits being cast in a school play as a freshman as giving him the confidence needed to race. He moved up to Legends car racing with Peachtree City Golf Carts after having his golf cart stolen and buying a new one there. Smithley credits that relationship as what kept him in racing past Bandoleros, as his family did not have money to advance to Legends. He was chosen to be part of the Richard Petty Driver Search in his first year after high school.

Growing up, Dale Jarrett and Carl Edwards were two of Smithley's role models. Smithley was attracted to Jarrett at a young age because of his paint scheme, which depicted an American flag.

ARCA Racing Series

Smithley competed in three events in 2013, driving Derrike Cope's cars. His first start, at Pocono Raceway, was Smithley's first stock car race. His one start in 2014 was an 18th at Talladega for Wes Gonder. In 2015, his one start for Rick Ware was hampered by engine problems.

Craftsman Truck Series

Smithley made his 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, scoring a high finish of 14th at Michigan. He returned to Atlanta with MB Motorsports for his first start of 2016, finishing 18th.

In March 2019, Smithley returned to the series at Texas Motor Speedway, driving the No. 42 for Chad Finley Racing; the run was part of an effort by Smithley to race in all three NASCAR national series in one weekend. The following year, he signed with Niece Motorsports for the Charlotte Truck event.

Xfinity Series

Smithley at Road America in 2017

Smithley at Road America in 2016

Smithley's No. 6 car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024.

Smithley made his Xfinity Series debut in the final race of 2015, at Homestead driving the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro for Derrike Cope Racing, started 34th, and finished 28th.

On February 16, 2016, it was announced that Smithley would race for JD Motorsports, driving the No. 0 Chevrolet Camaro, and would also compete for the NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors. Although the original agreement was only for three races, he ran every race except the PowerShares QQQ 300. Finishing 18th in series points, he finished in the top 15 in both restrictor plate races, including one at Talladega Superspeedway. Smithley cracked the top 20 five times outside of plate tracks, but troubles at road courses (such as running the bus stop at Watkins Glen, resulting in an engine failure) put a slight damper on his season. Another incident at Talladega left Chris Cockrum mad at Smithley; Smithley turned Cockrum off Turn 2, collecting Joey Gase in the process. Cockrum in the infield after the wreck accused Smithley of not knowing how to race at restrictor plate tracks. Smithley, discussing his Wikipedia page in a 2018 podcast, shared his side of the story, claiming Cockrum moved up and there was only "slight contact" that led to the wreck.

Smithley returned full-time to JD Motorsports in 2017. He ran all the races so far except Chicagoland, where he ran in MBM Motorsports' No. 40 car to make room for Vinnie Miller, who was making his series debut. He scored his first two Xfinity top-10 finishes, at Daytona and Iowa, and led his first Xfinity Series lap at Talladega. The rest of the season didn't go as well in a self-described "sophomore slump". Besides driving, Smithley has also undertaken a publicist-like role within his team, calling companies before races each week to see if they would like to sponsor him. He has opened a personal LLC to help with the finances of sponsorship, mainly taxes.

On February 7, 2018, Smithley was announced to be returning in the 0 car for the 2018 season. In the season opener, Smithley overcame a spin to score his first NASCAR top five, coming in fifth. He also switched crew chiefs, bringing Wayne Carroll on board. It was then announced two days after the race that Smithley would switch numbers with fellow JD Motorsports driver Matt Mills for the next two races, with Smithley taking Mills' No. 15 and Mills taking Smithley's No. 0. Talking about life at-track in summer 2018, Smithley said that he does not like to make friends with other Xfinity Series regulars, since in previous experiences, making friends had made him less aggressive and more willing to cut other racers' breaks.

Smithley returned to JDM in 2019. For throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway, Smithley drove a tribute paint scheme to MB Motorsports owner Mike Mittler, who died earlier in 2019. Mittler gave Smithley his first opportunity in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

In 2020, Smithley joined SS-Green Light Racing as part of an alliance with Rick Ware Racing, debuting with the team at Charlotte in the No. 07.

On May 24, 2022, Austin Konenski from Sportsnaut revealed that Smithley would drive the No. 36 car for DGM Racing in the race at Charlotte. DGM had announced that Alex Labbé, who had driven the car in every race that year except for the season-opener at Daytona, would not be running that race due to not being able to find a sponsor. Smithley's entry with DGM had an alliance with Rick Ware Racing. Smithley made his second Xfinity Series start of 2022 at Kansas in September in the No. 5 for B. J. McLeod Motorsports after Matt Mills, who was scheduled to drive the car, got the flu earlier in the week.

On November 1, 2022, it was announced that Smithley would run full-time for B. J. McLeod Motorsports, driving the No. 78 Chevrolet, although it was later announced that he would drive the No. 99 instead. After failing to qualify for Daytona and Auto Club, and finishing 36th at Las Vegas, he was released from the team. Smithley then drove the No. 91 Chevrolet for DGM Racing at Phoenix, and was announced that he would run multiple races in the entry, although it would be his only start for the team that year. One week later, it was revealed that Smithley would return to JD Motorsports, this time in the No. 4 Chevrolet, replacing Bayley Currey, for the remainder of the schedule, although he only ran select races with a best finish of sixteenth at Talladega.

On February 13, 2024, it was announced that Smithley would run the No. 6 for JD in the first four races of the 2024 season. He would remain with the team until they filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy following the race at Pocono Raceway. He would run the remainder of the season on a limited schedule driving the No. 45 for Alpha Prime Racing and the No. 53 for Joey Gase Motorsports.

On December 19, 2024, it was announced that Smithley would drive the No. 14 full-time during the 2025 season.

Cup Series

On June 1, 2018, reports surfaced that Smithley will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut at Michigan with StarCom Racing in the team's No. 99 entry, though the reports were not immediately confirmed by Smithley. Smithley retired from the race after just one lap with a transmission issue. He later ran two other races that season, including one with Premium Motorsports.

Smithley's No. 54 at Darlington Raceway in 2019

In 2019, Smithley picked up a part-time ride with Spire Motorsports to drive the No. 77 Chevrolet starting at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In his limited schedule, Smithley aimed to gain respect from the Cup Series competitors. He cracked the top-30 with a 28th-place finish at the 2019 Brickyard 400. While driving the No. 52 Rick Ware Racing Ford at the 2019 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he was heavily criticized by Kyle Busch, who blamed him and Joey Gase for costing him a solid run.

Smithley returned to RWR for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, racing on an "expanded" schedule beginning with the 2020 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas. He also made starts with Spire and B. J. McLeod Motorsports.

Smithley in the No. 13 at Daytona International Speedway in 2021

For 2021, Smithley remained with RWR for another part-time schedule in the Cup Series. He also attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500 for the first time in his career. With all four of the Rick Ware cars taken, Smithley drove the No. 13 (previously No. 49) for MBM Motorsports, a team he made one Xfinity Series start for in 2017. Chad Finchum was originally scheduled to drive the car in the race, but he was taken out of it because he had no sponsor lined up while Smithley did have one (Trophy Tractor).

Smithley in the No. 15 at Auto Club Speedway in 2022

In 2022, Smithley remained with RWR, this time in the No. 15 Ford, for another partial schedule. He would get a best finish of 21st in his first start of the year at Auto Club Speedway in six races.

Personal life

Smithley's father and both of his grandfathers were military servicemen. He was born in Pennsylvania, but later moved to Virginia when he was six, and then Georgia in the sixth grade. When he was a child, Smithley played baseball and football, but also was active in dance and chorus, eventually becoming a theater participant at McIntosh High School, even being named as the lead in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory along with being an active member of the Boy Scouts of America. He credits his theater and drama experience as giving him the confidence necessary to take chances in his racing career.

After racing, Smithley hopes to become a television announcer.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	NCSC	Pts	Ref
2018	StarCom Racing	99	Chevy	DAY	ATL	LVS	PHO	CAL	MAR	TEX	BRI	RCH	TAL	DOV	KAN	CLT	POC	MCH 39	SON	CHI	DAY	KEN 36	NHA	POC	GLN															67th	01
	Premium Motorsports	7	Chevy																							MCH 32	BRI	DAR	IND	LVS	RCH	ROV	DOV	TAL	KAN	MAR	TEX	PHO	HOM
2019	Spire Motorsports	77	Chevy	DAY	ATL 36	LVS	PHO	CAL 36	MAR	TEX 32	BRI	RCH	TAL	DOV	KAN	CLT	POC									MCH 35	BRI													55th	01
	Premium Motorsports	15	Chevy															MCH 30	SON	CHI	DAY	KEN	NHA	POC	GLN
	Rick Ware Racing	54	Chevy																									DAR 35
		52	Ford																										IND 28	LVS 35	RCH	ROV 36			KAN 34		TEX 36
		54																															DOV 33	TAL
		52	Chevy																																	MAR 32
		51																																				PHO 31	HOM
2020				DAY	LVS 35	CAL 34	PHO 35																																	48th	02
		53						DAR 37	DAR 34	CLT 33	CLT 40		ATL 35				POC 33	POC 32	IND 24	KEN 33	TEX
	Spire Motorsports	77	Chevy									BRI 26		MAR 36	HOM							KAN 26	NHA 31															MAR 39
	B. J. McLeod Motorsports	78	Chevy													TAL 34																BRI 32	LVS	TAL	ROV	KAN
	Rick Ware Racing	53	Ford																					MCH 35	MCH 34	DRC 36											TEX 31
	Tommy Baldwin Racing	7	Chevy																								DOV 37	DOV 35	DAY	DAR	RCH								PHO 37
2021	MBM Motorsports	13	Ford	DAY DNQ																																				56th	01
	Rick Ware Racing	53	Chevy		DRC 27	HOM 31	LVS 31	PHO 34	ATL	BRD	MAR	RCH 35	TAL	KAN 33	DAR	DOV 32				NSH 25	POC 29	POC 36	ROA	ATL 31	NHA 33			MCH 32	DAY 30	DAR		BRI 30	LVS 35		ROV 34
			Ford														COA 28		SON 32							GLN 36	IRC 28
		51	Chevy															CLT 34													RCH 31
		15																																TAL 29		TEX 24	KAN	MAR 33	PHO 31
2022			Ford	DAY	CAL 21	LVS 30	PHO 32	ATL	COA	RCH	MAR	BRD	TAL	DOV	DAR	KAN	CLT	GTW	SON	NSH	ROA	ATL 27	NHA	POC	IRC	MCH	RCH	GLN	DAY	DAR	KAN	BRI	TEX 23	TAL	ROV	LVS	HOM	MAR	PHO 33	51st	01

Daytona 500

Year	Team	Manufacturer	Start	Finish
2021	MBM Motorsports	Ford	DNQ

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	NXSC	Pts	Ref
2015	Derrike Cope Racing	70	Chevy	DAY	ATL	LVS	PHO	CAL	TEX	BRI	RCH	TAL	IOW	CLT	DOV	MCH	CHI	DAY	KEN	NHA	IND	IOW	GLN	MOH	BRI	ROA	DAR	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	CLT	KAN	TEX	PHO	HOM 28	109th	01
2016	JD Motorsports	0	Chevy	DAY	ATL 24	LVS 24	PHO 31	CAL 23	TEX 23	BRI 29	RCH 20	TAL 12	DOV 24	CLT 15	POC 27	MCH 17	IOW 22	DAY 13	KEN 24	NHA 23	IND 23	IOW 22	GLN 39	MOH 24	BRI 23	ROA 40	DAR 22	RCH 31	CHI 19	KEN 17	DOV 26	CLT 25	KAN 18	TEX 25	PHO 34	HOM 29	18th	544
2017				DAY 8	ATL 27	LVS 29	PHO 24	CAL 26	TEX 30	BRI 34	RCH 29	TAL 21	CLT 24	DOV 27	POC 35	MCH 29	IOW 10	DAY 28	KEN 26	NHA 23	IND 21	IOW 35	GLN 24	MOH 30	BRI 34	ROA 27	DAR 26	RCH 32		KEN 25	DOV 29	CLT 23	KAN 28	TEX 24	PHO 25	HOM 24	21st	348
	MBM Motorsports	40	Toyota																										CHI 37
2018	JD Motorsports	0	Chevy	DAY 5			PHO 28	CAL 23	TEX 27	BRI 17	RCH 27	TAL 10	DOV 32	CLT 14	POC 26	MCH 26	IOW 25	CHI 19	DAY 28	KEN 19	NHA 32	IOW 25	GLN 23	MOH 28	BRI 16	ROA 15		IND 20	LVS 18	RCH 24	ROV 25	DOV 23	KAN 13	TEX 20	PHO 26	HOM 27	19th	496
		15			ATL 25	LVS 23
		4																									DAR 20
2019		0		DAY 24	ATL 17	LVS 18	PHO 22	CAL 19	TEX 31	BRI 22	RCH 19	TAL 12	DOV 23	CLT 17	POC 29	MCH 27	IOW 29	CHI 25	DAY 14	KEN 19	NHA 24	IOW 22	GLN 24	MOH 20	BRI 28	ROA 33	DAR 29	IND 14	LVS 23	RCH 27		DOV 26	KAN 33	TEX 17	PHO 27	HOM 32	19th	443
		4																													ROV 33
2020	SS-Green Light Racing	07	Chevy	DAY	LVS	CAL	PHO	DAR	CLT 31	BRI	ATL 24	HOM	HOM	TAL	POC	IRC	KEN 31	KEN 16	TEX	KAN	ROA	DRC	DOV	DOV	DAY	DAR	RCH	RCH	BRI	LVS	TAL 8	ROV	KAN	TEX	MAR	PHO	43rd	752
2021	SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing	17	Chevy	DAY	DRC	HOM	LVS 24	PHO	ATL	MAR	TAL	DAR	DOV	COA	CLT	MOH	TEX 25	NSH	POC	ROA	ATL	NHA	GLN	IRC	MCH	DAY	DAR	RCH	BRI	LVS	TAL 19	ROV	TEX				46th	62
			Toyota																															KAN 18	MAR	PHO
2022	DGM Racing	36	Chevy	DAY	CAL	LVS	PHO	ATL	COA	RCH	MAR	TAL	DOV	DAR	TEX	CLT 21	POR	NSH	ROA	ATL	NHA	POC	IRC	MCH	GLN	DAY	DAR										51st	47
	B. J. McLeod Motorsports	5	Chevy																									KAN 32	BRI
		78																												TEX 23	TAL	ROV	LVS 25	HOM	MAR	PHO
2023		99		DAY DNQ	CAL DNQ	LVS 36																															38th	125
	DGM Racing	91	Chevy				PHO 32
	JD Motorsports	4	Chevy					ATL 36	COA DNQ	RCH 30	MAR DNQ	TAL 16	DOV 31	DAR DNQ	CLT 33	PIR 24	SON	NSH	CSC	ATL 26	NHA	POC 21	ROA	MCH 30	IRC	GLN			KAN 25	BRI	TEX DNQ	ROV	LVS DNQ	HOM	MAR	PHO
		6																									DAY 16	DAR
2024				DAY 16	ATL 34	LVS 29	PHO 26	COA	RCH 21	MAR 29	TEX 34	TAL DNQ	DOV 30	DAR 29	CLT 24			IOW 26		NSH 36	CSC	POC Wth															31st	191
		4														PIR 22	SON 27		NHA 29
	Alpha Prime Racing	45	Chevy																				IND 31	MCH	DAY	DAR 30	ATL 23	GLN					LVS 29	HOM	MAR 32
	Joey Gase Motorsports	53	Ford																										BRI 36	KAN	TAL	ROV				PHO 30
2025	SS-Green Light Racing	14	Chevy	DAY	ATL	COA	PHO	LVS	HOM	MAR	DAR	BRI	CAR	TAL	TEX	CLT	NSH	MXC	POC	ATL	CSC	SON	DOV	IND	IOW	GLN	DAY	PIR	GTW	BRI	KAN	ROV	LVS	TAL	MAR	PHO	-*	-*

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	NCTC	Pts	Ref
2015	MB Motorsports	63	Chevy	DAY	ATL 18	MAR	KAN	CLT	DOV	TEX	GTW	IOW	KEN	ELD	POC 16	MCH 14	BRI	MSP	CHI	NHA	LVS	TAL	MAR	TEX	PHO	HOM 28	36th	100
2016				DAY	ATL 18	MAR	KAN	DOV																			98th	01
	SS-Green Light Racing	07	Chevy						CLT 29	TEX	IOW	GTW	KEN 21	ELD	POC	BRI	MCH	MSP	CHI	NHA	LVS	TAL	MAR	TEX	PHO	HOM
2019	Chad Finley Racing	42	Chevy	DAY	ATL	LVS	MAR	TEX 15	DOV	KAN	CLT	TEX	IOW	GTW	CHI	KEN	POC	ELD	MCH	BRI	MSP	LVS	TAL	MAR	PHO	HOM	105th	01
2020	Niece Motorsports	40	Chevy	DAY	LVS	CLT 36	ATL	HOM	POC	KEN	TEX	KAN	KAN	MCH	DAY	DOV	GTW	DAR	RCH	BRI	LVS	TAL	KAN	TEX	MAR	PHO	94th	01
2022	Young's Motorsports	20	Chevy	DAY	LVS	ATL	COA	MAR	BRD	DAR	KAN	TEX DNQ	CLT	GTW	SON	KNX	NSH	MOH	POC	IRP	RCH	KAN	BRI	TAL	HOM	PHO	109th	01
2023		02		DAY	LVS	ATL	COA	TEX	BRD	MAR	KAN	DAR	NWS	CLT	GTW	NSH	MOH	POC	RCH	IRP	MLW	KAN	BRI	TAL 15	HOM	PHO	105th	01

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points
² Switched to Xfinity points prior to the spring Charlotte race

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	ARSC	Pts	Ref
2013	Derrike Cope Racing	74	Chevy	DAY	MOB	SLM	TAL	TOL	ELK	POC 17	MCH	ROA	WIN	CHI	NJE	POC 14	BLN	ISF	MAD	DSF	IOW	SLM	KEN 26	KAN	64th	405
2014	Wes Gonder Racing	11	Ford	DAY	MOB	SLM	TAL 18	TOL	NJE	POC	MCH	ELK	WIN	CHI	IRP	POC	BLN	ISF	MAD	DSF	SLM	KEN	KAN		111th	140
2015	Rick Ware Racing	10	Chevy	DAY 34	MOB	NSH	SLM	TAL	TOL	NJE	POC	MCH	CHI	WIN	IOW	IRP	POC	BLN	ISF	DSF	SLM	KEN	KAN		136th	60

CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	CLMSCTC	Pts	Ref
2023	AK Performance	98	Chevy	SNM	FLC	HCY	ACE 22	NWS	LGY	DOM	CRW	HCY	ACE	TCM	WKS	AAS	SBO	TCM	CRW	-*	-*

CARS Super Late Model Tour

(key)

CARS Super Late Model Tour results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	CSLMTC	Pts	Ref
2021	E33 Motorsports	51S	Chevy	HCY	GPS 11	NSH		HCY	MMS	TCM	SBO	15th	50
	Wauters Motorsports	5	Toyota				JEN 5

CARS Pro Late Model Tour

(key)

CARS Pro Late Model Tour results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	CPLMTC	Pts	Ref
2022	E33 Motorsports	15S	Ford	CRW	HCY	GPS	FCS	TCM	HCY	ACE	MMS 9	TCM	ACE	SBO	CRW		34th	N/A
2023		4		SNM	HCY	ACE	NWS 32	TCM	DIL	CRW	WKS	HCY	FLC	SBO	TCM	CRW	-*	-*

Carolina Pro Late Model Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

Carolina Pro Late Model Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	CPLMSC	Pts	Ref
2020	E33 Motorsports	51	Ford	DIL 18	OCS	HCY	HCY	HCY	HCY	HCY	HCY	FLC 13				23rd	N/A
2021				HCY	HCY	OCS	FLC	HCY	CCS	FCS	DIL	HCY	OCS	HCY	SNM 5*	51st	N/A

External links

• Official website
• Official profile at JD Motorsports
• Garrett Smithley driver statistics at Racing-Reference