Sammy Smith, a Toyota Racing Development driver from Johnston, Iowa, is the hottest rookie prospect in NASCAR. The up-and-coming driver is already turning heads and is continuing to make a name for himself. Many experts consider Smith to be the driver to look out for as his talent and drive are undeniable.

 

At age 10, Smith, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, started racing in Legend Cars, amassing 31 wins in three years of competition. In 2019, Sammy turned his attention to Late Model racing, finding success in both Pro and Super Late Models with multiple teams.

 

By 2021, Smith made his ARCA Menards Series East debut behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. In an eight-race season that saw him find Victory Lane on three occasions, the Toyota Racing Development (TD2) driver finished in the top 5 in all but one race and led 396 laps en route to his first ARCA East Championship. Sammy also continued to work on his race craft with the No. 22 Super Late Model for Donnie Wilson Racing, earning four wins and 13 top-5 finishes.

 

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. Across the ARCA platform, Smith won 12 races, led 1,988 laps, and collected the Sioux Chief Showdown and ARCA Menards Series East championships. Across nine races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Smith collected three top-10 finishes with a best finish of third at Watkins Glen International.

 

2023 sees Smith moving to the NASCAR Xfinity Series on a full-time basis piloting the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra. The talented prospect scored his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Phoenix Raceway on March 11. In addition to competing in the Xfinity Series, Smith will race in four Super Late Model events with Donnie Wilson Racing.