Jeff Smith (American racing driver)

Jeff Smith
Born (1963-08-20) August 20, 1963 (age 61)
Macomb, Michigan
ARCA Menards Series career
3 races run over 2 years
Best finish66th (2023)
First race1987 Grand Auto Parts 150 (Rockford)
Last race2023 Henry Ford Health 200 (Michigan)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
ARCA Menards Series East career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish48th (2023)
First race2023 Dutch Boy 150 (Flat Rock)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of June 18, 2023.

Jeff Smith (born August 20, 1963) is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 49 Ford for Brad Smith Motorsports. He is the older brother of current ARCA Menards Series driver Brad Smith.

Racing career

Smith ran one ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series race at Flat Rock Speedway driving for his brother's team in the No. 67 Chrysler, where he would finish 28th and last due to engine issues.

Since 1988, Smith has worked as a crew member and crew chief for his brother and his team.[1][2] In 2022, he gained attention at the Milwaukee Mile where he served as the only pit crew member for Brad, who was making his 400th start in the now ARCA Menards Series, and had performed a pit stop for him during the race, which was filmed and uploaded onto Facebook by Dan Margetta, who was in attendance at the event; Brad would finish 21st after running 136 of the 150 laps.[3]

In 2023, it was revealed on the entry list for the ARCA Menards Series East race at Flat Rock Speedway that Smith would run the No. 49 Ford for Brad Smith Motorsports, which would be his first professional start in any stock car series since 1987.[4][5] Smith would finish sixteenth and last after one lap due to clutch issues.[6] He would later make his return to the main ARCA Menards Series driving the No. 49 Chevrolet at Berlin Raceway, where he would finish seventeenth after spinning out two laps into the race.[7] He would return at Michigan International Speedway, where he would finish 23rd due to mechanical issues at the start of the race.[8]

Motorsports career results

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
1987 Smith Brothers Racing 67 Chrysler DAY ATL TAL DEL ACS TOL ROC POC FRS KIL TAL FRS
28 		ISF INF DSF SLM ATL N/A 0 [9]
2023 Brad Smith Motorsports 49 Chevy DAY PHO TAL KAN CLT BLN
17 		ELK MOH IOW POC MCH
23 		IRP GLN ISF MLW DSF KAN BRI SLM TOL 66th 48 [10]

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 AMSEC Pts Ref
2023 Brad Smith Motorsports 49 Ford FIF DOV NSV FRS
16 		IOW IRP MLW BRI 48th 28 [11]

* Season still in progress

References

  1. ^ "Brad Smith, brother stay in ARCA racing with crew that's 'like family'". Macomb Daily. June 7, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Brad Smith Returning for Full ARCA Schedule in 2023". Frontstretch. September 8, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  3. ^ Christie, Toby (August 30, 2022). "The One Man Pit Crew: Jeff Smith Helps Brother Brad Smith Secure 21st Place Finish in 400th-Career ARCA Start". Toby Christie. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Glover, Luken (May 17, 2023). "Entry List: 2023 Dutch Boy 150". Frontstretch. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Staff Report (May 17, 2023). "Entry list: Dutch Boy 150 at Flat Rock Speedway". ARCA Menards Series. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "ARCA EAST: Jeff Smith takes last on a weekend of several ARCA returns". LASTCAR.info. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Race results: Berlin ARCA 200 at Berlin Raceway". ARCA Menards Series. June 17, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "ARCA: Jeff Smith returns to the driver's seat in his home state". LASTCAR.info. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "Jeff Smith – 1987 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Jeff Smith – 2023 ARCA Menards Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "Jeff Smith – 2023 ARCA Menards Series East results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 20, 2023.