“I’ll Stand With You and Pray”: NASCAR Fans Rally Behind Chandler Smith As Uncertain Future Looms for JGR Driver

Neha Dwivedi | 24/11/2024
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Chandler Smith (81) during the Championship race at Phoenix Raceway.

Former Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Chandler Smith, who rounded off the NASCAR Xfinity Series season with a finish P5, disclosed his uncertain future back in October. So far, there have been no updates regarding a new team for him.

After the curtain fell on the 2024 season with the Awards Banquet, Smith took to social media to express his gratitude towards his team and fans. He crowned the season as one of his most successful ones.

He posted, “2024 was one of the best years I’ve had in racing in a very, very long time. Being able to work with everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and being back with the Toyota family was an absolute pleasure.”

Adding to his reflections, Smith shared, “As we close the chapter on 2024 and I reflect on how the season went, it’s very hard to hang my head over it.”

He added, “Yes, we didn’t make the championship 4, yes we didn’t win as many races as I would have liked, but it was one of the best seasons yet. I will be forever grateful for my entire 81 group. I made some amazing friendships over the year and some lifelong friends as well.”

Moreover, he extended heartfelt thanks to his fans, friends, and family for their support through ups and downs. He expressed particular gratitude to his wife and family, recognizing the sacrifices they made to support his career.

Fans, however, were unsettled by the fact that a skilled driver like Smith was without a ride for the upcoming year despite his commendable performance. One fan expressed their support by writing, “You deserve to have a ride for 2025 with a good team. I think you’ve more than earned that.”

Another fan highlighted his achievements, underlining the 22-year-old’s prowess behind the wheel, and wrote, “22 top 10s & 17 top 5s in only your 2nd season. Some have been at it for 6+ years and never accomplished this. Head always high.”

A devoted supporter remarked, “Great season. Someone needs to sign C.Smith, he has the talent, JGR will let another great driver be pushed put of a ride. Look how many other he has done this to. Wish you the best, I’ll stand with you and pray that a seat opens.”

Meanwhile, another fan, eager to see Smith secure a ride, said, “Hopefully someone pulls their head out and you get a ride. You have far too much talent to let it go to waste. Hoping for good news soon!!”

Regarding potential opportunities, there’s buzz that Richard Childress Racing’s #33 entry, shared part-time by Austin Hill, Ty Dillon, and Will Brown, might include Smith in their part-time lineup for 2025.

However, since no official announcements have been made, the news remains speculative. It remains to be seen if the Georgia native will be seen in the field next year or not.

Post Edited By: Rahul Ahluwalia
Chandler Smith Joe Gibbs Racing

About the author

Neha Dwivedi

Neha Dwivedi is an experienced NASCAR Journalist at The SportsRush, having penned over 5500 articles on the sport to date. She was a seasoned writer long before she got into the world of NASCAR. Although she loves to see Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch win the races, she equally supports the emerging talents in the CARS Late Model and ARCA Menards Series.. For her work in NASCAR she has earned accolades from journalists like Susan Wade of The Athletic, as well as NASCAR drivers including Thad Moffit and Corey Lajoie. Her favorite moment from NASCAR was witnessing Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. win the championship trophies. Outside the racetrack world, Neha immerses herself in the literary world, exploring both fiction and non-fiction.

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