“It must all come down to money”: NASCAR influencer makes his feelings known on ex-JGR driver Chandler Smith’s switch to FRM

Former Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chandler Smith was without a ride before the end of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity season reportedly amid a career switch into his father's construction business. However, the 22-year-old has bagged a ride with Front Row Motorsports albeit in the Truck Series division.

According to Eric Estepp, Smith's step down from the ladder is a surprise announcement given his history of multiple wins and top-five finishes in the Xfinity Series. The famed motorsports influencer on his YouTube channel shed light upon the sponsorship factor and the funding required to run in NASCAR's second-tier division. He said:

"What if I told you that Chandler Smith was jobless in mid-December and had to settle for a Truck Series ride. It's got to be money, right? He maybe doesn't have the funding he used to or maybe you look at who JGR put in their Xfinity cars instead." [4:00]

Furthermore, Estepp mentioned that Joe Gibbs' current three full-time entries in the Xfinity Series have more backing than Smith.

"Yes, it's a step backwards to step down the ladder, no matter how you slice it, but he's still in a championship-contending car, he'll still race on national TV and contend for wins on a regular basis. It's not a bad ride. I'm just surprised that a driver with Chandler Smith's resume wound up getting demoted. It must all come down to money," he added.

Smith bagged Front Row Motorsports' new second entry in the NASCAR Truck Series for the 2025 season.

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Chandler Smith is excited to join a "proven" NASCAR team for the 2025 season

The Georgia native Chandler Smith will join Layne Riggs, who drives the #38 Ford for FRM. The team won the 2022 Truck Series championship with Zane Smith, while Riggs finished 11th in the final driver's standings this year after accumulating two wins.

In a press release by the Bob Jenkins-owned FRM, Smith said:

“I’m excited to join Front Row Motorsports' Truck program. They are a top contender in the Truck Series and have proven so with championships and wins. I like what they are building here and am honored to have the opportunity to add to it. We are getting a bit of a late start, but I am excited about the caliber of talent we are talking to in being a part of this program for 2025."

Smith is not completely new to the Truck Series. He made his debut with Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2019. In his brief stint in Trucks, Smith garnered five wins and 35 top-10 finishes.