NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Chandler Smith is departing from Front Row Motorsports at the conclusion of the 2026 season, the team announced on Tuesday. Smith has driven full-time for FRM since 2025. No corresponding signing was immediately announced by either party.
After 16 races of the 2026 Truck Series season, Chandler Smith is third in points with a Chase entry already clinched. The 24-year-old has two wins this season on top of two wins last year. Smith’s average finish of 11.7 is third-best in the Truck Series this season, behind teammate Layne Riggs and rivals Kaden Honeycutt and Gio Ruggiero.
Front Row Motorsports Statement
“Chandler Smith will not return to Front Row Motorsports in 2027,” FRM said in a statement on Tuesday. “We would like to extend our gratitude to Chandler for being a great representative of our CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program. The list of accomplishments that he and No. 38 team have obtained are impressive, with four wins to-date over the past two seasons, and we wish him the best on his continued career path.
“The team will remain committed to competing at the highest level in the series and contending for championships, for the remainder of 2026 and beyond. Additional updates on our 2027 plans will be shared when available.”
Chandler Smith’s Career
Chandler Smith has nine career wins in four full seasons of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2021, and has a best points finish of third the following year. Smith also has two full seasons in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, one each for Kaulig Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. In that span he won three races, peaking with a fifth-place points finish in 2024.
Smith’s first full-time NASCAR opportunity came with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the 2021 Truck Series season. He remained there for two seasons before moving up to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for 2023 and 2024. Smith returned to Truck Series competition in 2025, beginning his two-year tenure with Front Row Motorsports.
