League: NASCAR Sport: Motorsports Country: United States Category: General

Sammy Smith announces departure from JR Motorsports after 2026 season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 26, 2026, 10:13 PM

Last updated Aug 26, 2026

Sammy Smith announces departure from JR Motorsports after 2026 season

Summary

Sammy Smith, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, will not return for the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Smith, 22, joined JR Motorsports at the beginning of the 2024 season after racing for Joe Gibbs Racing. He expressed gratitude for his time with the team while emphasizing his focus on the ongoing season and the championship run. Smith's best finished was sixth in points in 2023, but he currently ranks eighth in the standings for 2026 and has gone winless thus far.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports Motorsport.com

Key Details

•Sammy Smith joined JR Motorsports in 2024 after racing for Joe Gibbs Racing.
•He has three career wins, with his last win in 2025 at Rockingham.
•Smith is currently eighth in the standings, winless after 23 races in 2026.
•He aims to focus on his championship run before leaving the team.

Latest Updates

10:13 PMYahoo Sports — Sammy Smith "moving on" from JR Motorsports after 2026 season
10:13 PMMotorsport.com — Sammy Smith "moving on" from JR Motorsports after 2026 season

What they're saying

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Sammy Smith, 22, will not continue to drive the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports (JRM) into the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. Smith previously drove for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), but joined JRM at the start of the 2024 season. "New chapter, same mindset," Smith posted on social media. "After this season, I’ll be moving on from JR Motorsports and into a new chapter. I’m ...Keep reading
— Motorsport.com