Garrett Smithley

American racing driver (born 1992) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Garrett Smithley

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 SS for SS-Green Light Racing with BRK Racing and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Garage 66. He has also previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.

Quick Facts Born, NASCAR Cup Series career ...
Garrett Smithley
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Smithley at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024
BornGarrett Kirk Smithley
(1992-04-27) April 27, 1992 (age 32)
Ligonier, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NASCAR Cup Series career
76 races run over 5 years
Car no., teamNo. 66 (Garage 66)
2022 position51st
Best finish48th (2020)
First race2018 FireKeepers Casino 400 (Michigan)
Last race2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
183 races run over 11 years
Car no., teamNo. 14 (SS-Green Light Racing with BRK Racing)
2024 position31st
Best finish18th (2016)
First race2015 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Last race2025 Hard Rock Bet 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 5 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
10 races run over 5 years
2023 position105th
Best finish36th (2015)
First race2015 Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 (Atlanta)
Last race2023 Love's RV Stop 250 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
ARCA Menards Series career
5 races run over 3 years
Best finish64th (2013)
First race2013 Pocono ARCA 200 (Pocono)
Last race2015 Lucas Oil 200 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of March 8, 2025.
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Racing career

Summarize
Perspective

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.[1] 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 keeping him racing past Bandoleros, as his family did not have money to advance to Legends.[1] He was chosen to be part of the Richard Petty Driver Search in his first year after high school.[2]

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.[1]

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.[3] 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.[4][5][6]

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.[7] He returned to Atlanta with MB Motorsports for his first start of 2016, finishing 18th.[8]

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.[9] The following year, he signed with Niece Motorsports for the Charlotte Truck event.[10]

Xfinity Series

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Smithley at Road America in 2017
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Smithley at Road America in 2016
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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.[11]

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.[12] Although the original agreement was only for three races,[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17] He scored his first two Xfinity top-10 finishes, at Daytona and Iowa, and led his first Xfinity Series lap at Talladega.[18] The rest of the season didn't go as well in a self-described "sophomore slump".[19] 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.[3] He has opened a personal LLC to help with the finances of sponsorship, mainly taxes.[19]

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.[20] He also switched crew chiefs, bringing Wayne Carroll on board.[1] 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.[21] 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.[19]

Smithley returned to JDM in 2019.[22] 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.[23]

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.[24]

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.[25] 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.[26] Smithley's entry with DGM had an alliance with Rick Ware Racing. Smithley made his second Xfinity Series start in 2022 in 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.[27]

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.[28][29] 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.[30] 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.[31]

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.[32] 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.

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Smithley's No. 14 car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025

On December 19, 2024, it was announced that Smithley would drive the SS-Green Light Racing No. 14 full-time during the 2025 season.[33] On January 24, SSGLR announced that Beth and Randy Knighton, the owners of Knight Fire Protection, one of the sponsors of the No. 14 car in 2025, would have an ownership stake (BRK Racing) in that car.[34] On February 24, 2025, Smithley announced that he would not be in the car at Circuit of The Americas and that Carson Hocevar would replace him. Smithley decided to do this so the car would qualify and to guarantee that him and his team would have a successful season. Smithley said that he will be back in the car at Phoenix.

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.[35] Smithley retired from the race after just one lap with a transmission issue.[36] He later ran two other races that season, including one with Premium Motorsports.[37]

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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.[38] In his limited schedule, Smithley aimed to gain respect from the Cup Series competitors.[39] He cracked the top-30 with a 28th-place finish at the 2019 Brickyard 400.[40] 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.[41][42]

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.[43] He also made starts with Spire and B. J. McLeod Motorsports.[44][45]

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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.[46] 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.[47] 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).[48]

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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.[49] He would get a best finish of 21st in his first start of the year at Auto Club Speedway in six races.

Smithley competed in the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, driving the No. 66 Ford for Garage 66 (the new branding of MBM Motorsports' Cup Series operations).[50]

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.[2] 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,[51] even being named as the lead in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory[1] along with being an active member of the Boy Scouts of America.[19] He credits his theater and drama experience as giving him the confidence necessary to take chances in his racing career.[2]

After racing, Smithley hopes to become a television announcer.[1]

Motorsports career results

Summarize
Perspective

NASCAR

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

Cup Series

More information NASCAR Cup Series results, Year ...
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 [52]
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 [53]
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 [54]
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 [55]
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 [56]
Close
Daytona 500
More information Year, Team ...
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
2021 MBM Motorsports Ford DNQ
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Xfinity Series

More information NASCAR Xfinity Series results, Year ...
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 [57]
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 [58]
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 [59]
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 [60]
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 [61]
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 [62]
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 [63]
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 [64]
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 [65]
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 31st 191 [66]
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 with BRK Racing 14 Chevy DAY
31
ATL
24
COA PHO
29
LVS
27
HOM
31
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 -* -* [67]
Close

Craftsman Truck Series

More information NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results, Year ...
Close

* 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.)

More information ARCA Racing Series results, Year ...
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 [74]
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 [75]
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 [76]
Close

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.)

More information CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour results, Year ...
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 -* -* [77]
Close

CARS Super Late Model Tour

(key)

More information CARS Super Late Model Tour results, Year ...
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 [78]
Wauters Motorsports 5 Toyota JEN
5
Close

CARS Pro Late Model Tour

(key)

More information CARS Pro Late Model Tour results, Year ...
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 [79]
2023 4 SNM HCY ACE NWS
32
TCM DIL CRW WKS HCY FLC SBO TCM CRW -* -* [80]
Close

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.)

More information Carolina Pro Late Model Series results, Year ...
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 [81]
2021 HCY HCY OCS FLC HCY CCS FCS DIL HCY OCS HCY SNM
5*
51st N/A [82]
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References

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