Chandler Smith not returning to Front Row Motorsports in 2027

A major NASCAR free agency domino fell early Tuesday morning. 

Front Row Motorsports announced that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Chandler Smith, who has driven the organization's No. 38 Truck Series entry since 2025, will part ways with the team at the conclusion of the 2026 campaign.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to Chandler for being a great representative of our Craftsman Truck Series program," Front Row said in a statement. "The list of accomplishments that he and the No. 38 team have obtained are impressive, with four wins to date over the past two seasons, and we wish him the best on his continued career path."

Smith is third in the Truck Series standings through the first 16 races of 2026 and is likely to be a championship threat all the way through the season finale at Homestead. The 24-year-old driver from Talking Rock, Ga., won two races with FRM last year and has two so far this year.

In 41 starts behind the wheel of the FRM No. 38, Smith has 13 top fives, 26 top 10s and has led 356 laps.

What does Chandler Smith do now?

As for Smith's future, Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass reported Tuesday that it is "expected" that Smith will drive a NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series entry for Richard Childress Racing in 2027.

With Jesse Love moving up to the Cup Series with the Wood Brothers and Austin Hill potentially taking the second full-time Cup seat at RCR, at least one, if not both of RCR's NOAPS rides will be empty at the end of this season. Smith was full-time the O'Reilly Series with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023 and 2024, racking up three victories and 35 top 10s in 66 starts. 

Front Row could, obviously, find a driver to fill the vacant ride this offseason, but it's worth noting that the No. 38 Truck Series team only began right before Smith's tenure with the team began. If Front Row wanted to, it could downsize and go back to one full-time truck for 2027 with driver Layne Riggs, who has emerged as the Truck Series title favorite this season.