Chandler Smith Confirms the Worst For 2025
What’s Happening? On Saturday, NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship contender Chandler Smith confirmed that he does not have a ride for 2025….
Last week, Matt Weaver of Sportsnaut reported that Chandler Smith has signed with an unknown team for 2025. While this is good news for Smith, many are wondering what team he signed with so late in the Silly Season. There are a few options for Smith, so let’s take a look at those options.
What’s Happening? On Saturday, NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship contender Chandler Smith confirmed that he does not have a ride for 2025….
Chandler Smith, then racing for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 81, publicly stated on Oct. 26 that he did not have a ride for the 2025 season. Other drivers, such as Riley Herbst, who were in similar spots, have found deals with teams as the 2025 season approached while Smith sat in free agency.
During that post-race interview, Smith told Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports what seemed like a gloomy truth. “I don’t have a ride next year, Bob,” Smith said. “I could be working for my dad’s construction business, and I could be hanging it up at the end of this year.”
Fortunately, with the recent report that he has signed with a team, the driver who dominated the Xfinity Series last season will be on track next season. The only question left is, who did Smith find a ride with this late in the year?
Several Xfinity Series and a majority of low-level Cup Series rides already have drivers for the 2025 season. Furthermore, Smith’s sponsor support, or lack thereof, is a major factor in his departure from JGR. So, considering those factors, let’s take a look at what his options are for 2025.
What’s Happening? The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season isn’t here quite yet. However, multiple drivers and teams have confirmed their plans…
Unfortunately for Smith, the current open rides are not at the same level of competition he achieved in 2024. For example, if he were to race in a competitive car, the only confirmed open ride at a winning team would be in the Truck Series with Spire Motorsports following Chase Purdy’s departure from the No. 77.
This is a pitfall of attempting to guess where Smith is headed in 2025, as the open rides are not in that top tier of competition in their respective series. Known openings at Xfinity Series teams, such as RSS Racing’s No. 29, would see a lineup upgrade by signing Smith. Furthermore, Smith could even play a role in an unknown expanding Xfinity Series team. The only fact is that his limited options make it difficult to piece together his 2025 puzzle.
If Smith wanted to go to the Cup Series, his options were even fewer. The only two cars are without a confirmed driver. These are Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 and an un-numbered car at Front Row Motorsports. Most expect Corey Lajoie or Cody Ware to race the RWR car, and Zane Smith to drive the third FRM car. Despite this, there might be a different type of opportunity for Smith to keep racing.
One option that most fans speculating on the mystery team overlook is the chance of Smith racing part-time in the Cup Series and Xfinity Series. While the No. 51 is an open full-time ride, Richard Childress Racing announced Monday that they are entering their part-time Cup Series car in 2025.
What’s Happening? While it may not be the full-time ride some hoped he would get, a new rumor is pointing to…
Smith has rumor mill ties to this car, and the opportunities presented by this for Smith to keep racing might be the best he can get for the next season. While there are no rumors of this, crazier things have happened this silly season. Furthermore, the connections that RCR has to Xfinity Series teams, such as Kaulig Racing, could supply Smith with a combined part-time schedule.
Seemingly, all options are on the table for Smith, and his announcement could be another shocking twist in the 2025 NASCAR Silly Season.
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