NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Profile: Garrett Smithley

 

 

Garrett Smithley had absolutely no idea what he was going to do for the 2018 NASCAR season. The answer was right back where he started after the 2017 season. As Smithley will be returning to JD Motorsports in the 0 car in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. “It’s been a tough offseason trying to get everything together for the season,” Smithley said.  “It’s surreal in my third season with JD Motorsports in the Xfinity Series and it’s pretty cool,” Smithley continued.

 

Smithley stayed in touch with JD Motorsports throughout the offseason and team owner Johnny Davis always kept the ride open. “I was at the shop several times this offseason keeping in touch with Johnny. We had some support from our partners and it was also the relationship that I had built with Johnny over the last two years,” Smithley said.

 

JD Motorsports will be having a 4 car team this year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Garrett Smithley is back in the 0 car, Ross Chastain back in the 4, and new drivers Vinnie Miller in the 01 and Matt Mills in the 15. “That’s what’s cool about JD Motorsports,” Smithley said. “As little personnel that we have, we have really great guys. We are taking the same amount of cars as JR Motorsports and the bigger teams. We may not have some of the resources they have, but we are still able to do it and do it well. I think it’s a testament to what Johnny Davis has been able to do the last few years. We just have really good guys at the shop, and I think it is going to be a good year for us,” Smithley continued.

 

In today’s day and age to attract new fans to the sport, you have to be active on social media and come up with new ways to attract fans. Smithley has done that and done that very well with calling his ride the “number nuthin ride” and calling his fans “nuthin nation” while being very active on social media. “I’m big on Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat and in this day and age, it’s a big way to keep up with “Nuthin Nation” to see how they are doing.”

 

Smithley also likes doing interviews, TV, public speaking and appearances which most drivers dread doing.  For Smithley, it all goes back to his theater days for his love of being in front of people and being on television.  “I love being on TV and also, I just love the show aspect of racing. I have a passion for racing and going fast, but my other passion is performing and theater. So this kind of brings two of my passions together. I recently started playing games on Twitch livestreams and that really helps me connect with my fans. We call them “Nuthin Nation” and I think it really has caught on. It was a big reason why Johnny Davis brought me back in the 0 last year and why he left the 0 car open this season. I think he sees the value of that brand and it’s so important these days to have a brand,” Smithley said.

 

The NASCAR Xfinity Series season starts at Daytona and Smithley thinks he has a good chance to have a good run. “We finished 8th in that race last year in Daytona,” Smithley remarked.  “Daytona is such a crapshoot and you have to be very lucky to do well there. Luckily, we had some Flex Tape to fix the car and come home 8th. I think our goal is to run around for the first two stages, see who is left in the last stage, and see what happens. I hope we get another top 10 and it would be very cool if we could go to victory lane,” Smithley continued.

 

The NASCAR Xfinity series will race on February 17th in the Powershares QQQ 300 at Daytona. The Race will be at 2:30 ET and will be aired on FS1.