Is Sammy Smith One Of The One’s To Watch Ahead of Martinsville?

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Sammy Smith will pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports this Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, entering the weekend with a strong track record despite still searching for his first victory at the half-mile oval.

While Smith has yet to reach Victory Lane at Martinsville, his consistency at the track has made it one of his best on the schedule. In seven career starts, he has recorded four top-five finishes and six top-10s, along with one pole position in the fall of 2023. His average finish of 6.3 ranks among the best of any track he visits, highlighted by three runner-up finishes.

Among all tracks on the schedule, Martinsville ranks second in Smith’s average finishing position, trailing only Rockingham Speedway, where he scored a victory last season.

Smith also enters the weekend with momentum on his side. JR Motorsports has won four consecutive races in the series, placing the organization in one of its strongest stretches of the season. Smith currently sits sixth in the standings and remains well within striking distance as the championship battle begins to take shape.

A win at Martinsville would not only mark a breakthrough moment for Smith at one of his most consistent tracks, but it would also extend JR Motorsports’ winning streak to five races — a significant statement as the season progresses.

Given his history at the track and the current form of his team, Smith enters the weekend as a driver to watch, with the potential to finally turn consistent runs into a long-awaited Martinsville victory.