Sammy Smith has been under plenty of scrutiny lately. The JR Motorsports driver was at the center of controversy after wrecking Taylor Gray in the last lap at Martinsville, resulting in a 50-point penalty and a $25,000 fine. Since then, the racer has taken accountability for his actions, saying, “Ultimately, I made a mistake, and hopefully I can be forgiven and move past it.” While that might be easier said than done, the racer is doing what he knows best. Letting his results do the talking.
Given his age, few would have predicted that Smith would have the maturity to bounce back so quickly. But that’s exactly what he has done, securing one top-five and two top-ten results since the debacle at ‘The Paperclip’.
Sammy Smith is hungrier than ever to succeed
For a 20-year-old, Sammy Smith has a tremendous amount of experience in the Xfinity Series. He has completed two full seasons so far, apart from a part-time stint with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2022. That may go on to explain how the youngster, despite being at the receiving end of backlash after the 2025 US Marine Corps 250, managed to bounce back stronger than ever.
Sammy Smith managed to qualify in eighth place at Bristol and went on to steadily gain track positions as the race progressed, finishing fourth by the end of Stage 1 and third at the end of Stage 2. Ultimately, after a tight battle with Jesse Love on Lap 257, the Iowa native ended up finishing fourth. He said in the post-race interview, “Yeah, I think after that deal, nothing really changed. If anything, we were more passionate about going after it and trying to be successful.”
NASCAR can be a demanding motorsports discipline, but few appreciate how mentally draining the sport can be. The backlash after wrecking Taylor Gray must have felt like the weight of the world on Smith’s shoulders, and even Dale Jr. said on his podcast that he had never been more disappointed when leaving a racetrack in his life. Reigning Xfinity Series champ Justin Allgaier said, “How he responds to this is going to be a difference-maker,” and that’s exactly what he’s doing.
.@sammysmithSS has put recent controversy behind him and is more motivated for strong results like 4th today from @ItsBristolBaby. #SciAps300 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/j5k1uLt7AN
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) April 12, 2025
For a 20-year-old, situations such as these are learning experiences, ones that can define his career. Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, who also has somewhat of a reputation for his aggressive driving style, gave Sammy Smith some advice, saying that he should, “race the way you want to be raced.” At Bristol, the No. 8 Chevy driver faced plenty of challenges, particularly from Connor Zilisch on Lap 98 and Jesse Love when the pair were battling for fourth position. However, the youngster kept his composure and raced cleanly. Perhaps he has learned his lesson after all.
Smith to make Truck Series appearance with Spire Motorsports
Sammy Smith is all set to take part in a Truck Series race this year. The racer will be partnering with Spire Motorsports and will make an appearance at Rockingham Speedway next week. Hailing from Iowa, he will get behind the wheel of a No. 07 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado at ‘The Rock’, which has been hosting NASCAR events since 1965.
Smith is not a novice in the Truck Series. He has made five appearances in the competition so far, finishing as high as fifth at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He partnered with Brian Pattie at Spire Motorsports last year and earned one top-five and three top-10 finishes with the No. 7 team. He was a part of a multi-day organizational test at Rockingham Speedway in January, where he got experience on a track that is making its first NASCAR appearance since 2013.
Joining him as part of Spire Motorsports’ lineup will be Hendrick Motorsports’ development driver Corey Day as well as the team’s full-time racers Rajah Caruth, and Andres Perez de Lara. Will Sammy Smith manage to impress at the 1-mile D-shaped oval? Momentum is on his side, and the racer said, “I think overall we’ve had a good last couple of weeks. Just need to keep it going.”
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