Garrett Smithley

Garrett K. Smithley (born April 27, 1992) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Rick Ware Racing. Smithley has also competed in the NASCAR Xfinity and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, and the ARCA Racing Series.

Garrett Smithley
BornGarrett K. Smithley
(1992-04-27) April 27, 1992
Ligonier, Pennsylvania
NASCAR Cup Series career
43 races run over 3 years
Car no., teamNo. TBA (Rick Ware Racing)
2020 position48th
Best finish48th (2020)
First race2018 FireKeepers Casino 400 (Michigan)
Last race2020 Season Finale 500 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
137 races run over 6 years
2020 position43rd
Best finish18th (2016)
First race2015 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Last race2020 Ag-Pro 300 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 5 0
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
9 races run over 4 years
2020 position94th
Best finish36th (2015)
First race2015 Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 (Atlanta)
Last race2020 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (Charlotte)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 8, 2020.

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 go and 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 what kept him in racing past Bandoleros, as his family didn't 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 ever 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]

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

Smithley at Road America in 2017
Smithley at Road America in 2016

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 Smithley 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-ten 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 seeing if they would like to sponsor him.[3] He has opened a personal LLC to help with the finances of sponsorship, mainly taxes.[19]

It was announced on February 7, 2018, that Smithley would return 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; 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 doesn't 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 for 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]

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 weren't immediately confirmed by Smithley.[25] Smithley retired from the race after just one lap with a transmission issue.[26] He later ran two other races with Premium Motorsports that season.[27]

In 2019, Smithley picked up a part-time ride with Spire Motorsports to drive the No. 77 Chevrolet starting at Atlanta Motor Speedway.[28] In his limited schedule, Smithley aimed to gain respect from the Cup Series competitors.[29] He cracked the top-30 with a 28th-place finish at the 2019 Brickyard 400.[30] 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.[31][32]

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.[33] He also made starts with Spire and B. J. McLeod Motorsports.[34][35] He remained with the team on a part-time deal in 2021.[36]

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 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,[37] 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

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 [38]
Premium Motorsports 7 Chevy MCH
32
BRI DAR IND LVS RCH CLT 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 [39]
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 CLT
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 [40]
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 CLT KAN
Rick Ware Racing 53 Ford MCH
35
MCH
34
DAY
36
TEX
31
Tommy Baldwin Racing 7 Chevy DOV
37
DOV
35
DAY DAR RCH PHO
37

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 [41]
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 [42]
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 [43]
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
CLT
25
DOV
23
KAN
13
TEX
20
PHO
26
HOM
27
19th 496 [44]
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 [45]
4 CLT
33
2020 SS-Green Light Racing 07 Chevy DAY LVS CAL PHO DAR CLT
31
BRI ATL
24
HOM HOM TAL POC IND KEN
31
KEN
16
TEX KAN ROA DAY DOV DOV DAY DAR RCH RCH BRI LVS TAL
8
CLT KAN TEX MAR PHO 43rd 752 [46]

Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors 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 NGTC 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 [47]
2016 DAY ATL
18
MAR KAN DOV 98th 01 [48]
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 [49]
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 [50]

* 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 [51]
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 [52]
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 [53]

References

  1. "Garrett Smithley Checks In!". Bump N' Run Podcast. Spreaker. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  2. Crandall, Kelly (2016-09-01). "Xfinity Series Spotlight: Garrett Smithley, actor, singer and racer". NASCAR Talk. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  3. Gluck, Jeff (2017-03-08). "12 Questions with Garrett Smithley". JeffGluck.com. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  4. "Garrett Smithley 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  5. "Garrett Smithley 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  6. "Garrett Smithley 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  7. "Garrett Smithley 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  8. "Garrett Smithley 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  9. "Garrett Smithley to pull triple duty at Texas Motor Speedway". Catchfence. March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  10. Bonkowski, Jerry (May 20, 2020). "Garrett Smithley to make debut for Niece Motorsports". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  11. "Garrett Smithley 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference.info. Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  12. McCubbin, Ashley. "Garrett Smithley Gets Opportunity with JD Motorsports". Popular Speed. Popular Speed. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  13. Albino, Dustin. "Eyes on XFINITY: Garrett Smithley Hopes To Be Next Breakout Star at JD Motorsports". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  14. "Garrett Smithley 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  15. "Watch as violent wreck unfolds early in 'Dega XFINITY race". FOX Sports. 2016-04-30. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  16. Off Axis Podcast S2E12 – Garrett Smithley, 2018-03-01, retrieved 2018-03-17
  17. "Entry list for TheHouse.com 300 – Motorsports One". www.motorsportsone.com. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  18. "Driver Garrett Smithley 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
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  21. "Garrett Smithley and Matt Mills to swap numbers". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
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  23. "Garrett Smithley to honor Mike Mittler with Darlington scheme". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  24. Albino, Dustin (May 23, 2020). "Ray Black Jr. focusing on family business, Rick Ware strikes deal with SS-Green Light Racing". Frontstretch. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
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  27. "Garrett Smithley driving for Premium Motorsports at Michigan". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. August 8, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  28. Smithley, Garrett (February 18, 2019). "Garrett Smithley in Spire Motorsports car at Atlanta as entry lists released". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  29. Crandall, Kelly. "Racing Writer's Podcast: Episode 70: Garrett Smithley". PodcastOne. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  30. Beard, Brock (September 15, 2019). "INTERVIEW: Garrett Smithley and sponsor look to run more Cup races". LASTCAR.info. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  31. Albert, Zack (September 15, 2019). "Busch rallies after early damage, blames lapped drivers for late contact". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  32. Page, Scott (September 17, 2019). "Drivers respond to Kyle Busch's criticism". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  33. McFadin, Daniel (February 18, 2020). "Garrett Smithley returns to Rick Ware Racing for 'expanded' Cup schedule". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  34. Srigley, Joseph (May 29, 2020). "Garrett Smithley Returning to Spire Motorsports at Bristol Motor Speedway". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  35. Nguyen, Justin (June 18, 2020). "James Davison disapproved for Talladega, Cup debut pushed to Pocono". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
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  42. "Garrett Smithley – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  43. "Garrett Smithley – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
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  46. "Garrett Smithley – 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  47. "Garrett Smithley – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  48. "Garrett Smithley – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  49. "Garrett Smithley – 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  50. "Garrett Smithley – 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  51. "Garrett Smithley – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  52. "Garrett Smithley – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  53. "Garrett Smithley – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
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