By Christian Koelle, Staff Writer
Sammy Smith will compete for Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Menards Series East in six races this season. Smith moves up from Kyle Busch Motorsports’ Late Models to Joe Gibbs Racing’s ARCA program in 2021. Smith will make his debut next Monday, February 8 at New Smyrna Speedway in the ARCA East season opener.
“Sammy has been impressive at every level of his young career. We’re looking forward to having him join our development program in the ARCA Series,” said Steve deSouza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Smith will run a total of six races for Joe Gibbs Racing this season starting with New Smyrna. His other ARCA Menards Series East events include Five Flags Speedway, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Dover International Speedway, and Southern National Motorsports Park. In addition to the ARCA Menards Series East events, Smith will run the season finale at Phoenix Raceway for the ARCA Menards Series West.
We are excited to welcome @sammysmithraci1 and @EngineIce to the JGR @ARCA_Racing East Series. Sammy will make his debut in the No. 18 @EngineIce Toyota #Camry at New Smyrna on Monday. pic.twitter.com/JlFpgeiYE0
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) February 3, 2021
He will share the No. 18 with Ty Gibbs on the East Series side as Gibbs gets the promotion from the East Series to the ARCA Menards Series.
https://twitter.com/TyGibbs_/status/1356326174058819586
The Des Moines, IA native, Smith, has been impressive so far in his young career. Smith competed in the CARS Super Late Model Tour and CARS Late Model Stock Tour in 2020. He tallied four top-five and seven top-10 finishes combined. Smith finished sixth in the Winchester 400.
Although Kyle Busch Motorsports shuttered their late model program, Smith will still race Super Late Models. He will compete full-time with Donnie Wilson Motorsports.
Smith earned the victory in night one of the World Series of Stock Car Asphalt Racing last season at New Smyrna Speedway, where he will make his debut this coming week.
Photo: Timothy Nwachukwu/NASCAR