Sammy Smith won't return to JR Motorsports in 2027

Sammy Smith will be on the hunt for a new ride, as the 22-year-old driver from Johnston, Iowa, announced Wednesday in a social media post that he will not be returning to JR Motorsports for the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. 

"New chapter. Same mindset. After this season, I’ll be moving on from JR Motorsports and into a new chapter," Smith wrote. "I’m incredibly grateful for everyone at JRM who has been part of the last three years. Being a part of this No. 8 team has given me so much to be proud of, and I’ll always be thankful for the people who have helped me get to this point. But the job isn’t finished yet."

"My full focus is on this championship run, for my team, our partners and everyone who has believed in me along the way. Nothing is given. Everything is earned. I’m excited for what’s next and for the opportunity ahead."

Sammy Smith's career so far

Smith joined JRM in 2024 and has won two races with the organization, finishing 11th and eighth in the 2024 and 2025 standings, respectively. Going into Friday's NOAPS regular season finale at Daytona, Smith is eighth in points and has already sewn up a Chase berth, though he's yet to win this season. 

In 131 O'Reilly Series starts, Smith has three wins, 31 top-fives and 62 top-10s. He's led a total of 530 laps and has an average finish of 14.5 across those 131 races.