Sammy Smith Re-Signs With JR Motorsports For 2026 NASCAR Season

Sammy Smith, the 21-year-old NASCAR driver, has re-signed with JR Motorsports for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, continuing his tenure in the No. 8 Chevrolet. Smith, backed by longtime sponsors Pilot, TMC Transportation, and Allstate Peterbilt Group, has been a part of JR Motorsports since 2024 and has shown promising talent with a race win at Rockingham Speedway in 2025, securing his spot in the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Despite a controversial incident earlier in 2025 where he was penalized for intentionally wrecking a competitor, Smith has since improved his on-track conduct and performance consistency. JR Motorsports CEO Kelley Earnhardt Miller expressed enthusiasm about Smith’s return and the team's championship aspirations for 2025 and beyond. As Smith enters his third year with JRM and fourth full-time season overall, he is viewed as a developing talent with potential to advance further in NASCAR. The 2025 playoffs are set to begin at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Smith aims to build on his successes heading into the 2026 season.