Brad Smith (racing driver) explained

Brad Smith
Birth Name:	Bradley Smith
Birth Date:	9 October 1968
Birth Place:	Shelby Township, Michigan
Total Arca Races:	436
Years In Arca:	31
Arca Car Team:	No. 48 (Brad Smith Motorsports)
Best Arca Pos:	5th (2021)
First Arca Race:	1988 Stewart-Warner Track Force 150 (Rockford)
Last Arca Race:	2024 Atlas 150 (Iowa)
Arca Wins:	0
Arca Top Tens:	2
Arca Poles:	0
Total Arca East Races:	26
Years In Arca East:	5
Arca East Car Team:	No. 48 (Brad Smith Motorsports)
Best Arca East Pos:	5th (2022)
First Arca East Race:	2020 Herr's Potato Chips 200 (Toledo)
Last Arca East Race:	2024 Atlas 150 (Iowa)
Arca East Wins:	0
Arca East Top Tens:	0
Arca East Poles:	0
Total Arca West Races:	3
Years In Arca West:	3
Arca West Car Team:	No. 48 (Brad Smith Motorsports)
Best Arca West Pos:	63rd (2021)
First Arca West Race:	2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last Arca West Race:	2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Arca West Wins:	0
Arca West Top Tens:	0
Arca West Poles:	0
Updated:	August 16, 2024

Bradley Smith (born October 9, 1968) is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet SS for his team, Brad Smith Motorsports. Smith is a veteran of the series, having made over 400 starts in it since 1988. He made his debut in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2020 and ARCA Menards Series West in 2021, and he and his team have also competed part-time in those series since then. He is the younger brother of fellow driver Jeff Smith.

Racing career

An oil fire at Talladega Superspeedway in 2003 burned Smith's face and arms, resulting in a hospital stay.^[1] In the late 2000s, Smith hosted students from the University of Northwestern Ohio on his racing crew.

During the 2015 International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 at Talladega, Austin Wayne Self spun in the tri-oval, and collected Smith's racecar, which went pinballing off both the outside and inside retaining walls.^[2] Press reports indicated that the crash fractured Smith's left ankle, although Smith later described the injury as a sprain.^[3] A planned full-time season was derailed, as Smith needed a wheelchair for five months following the crash.^[4] He returned for a full season the following year and received the General Tire Spirit Award.^[5] Smith was driving for James Hylton Motorsports in 2018 when Hylton was killed in a hauler accident.^[6] The team completed the 2018 season and rebranded as Smith Brothers Racing, led by Smith and his brother Jeff. The group retained many of the same personnel from Hylton's team.^[7] In 2020, Smith claimed his first series top-ten at Winchester Speedway; the finish came in his 363rd start.^[8] Despite not having much success in 2021, only finishing three races under power and missing Daytona, Smith was able to score his career best points finish, 5th. In 2022, Smith would finish nine races under power and would earn his second career top 10, 10th at Berlin, and ended the season 8th in points. 2023 would see Smith complete five races and improve to 6th in points.

Personal life

Smith was an engineer at General Motors before being laid off in 2019.^[7] He has been married and divorced twice.^[1] Smith graduated from Utica Eisenhower High School.^[1]

Motorsports career results

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (

Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25		Pts	Ref
1988	Smith Brothers Racing	67	Chrysler	DAY	ATL	TAL DNQ	FRS	PCS	ROC 24	POC 13	WIN 16	KIL 24	ACS 17	SLM 16	POC 16	TAL DNQ	DEL 17	FRS 14	ISF 23	DSF 20	SLM 12	ATL							16th	-	^[9]
1991	Protocal Racing	40	Chrysler	DAY	ATL	KIL	TAL	TOL	FRS	POC	MCH	KIL	FRS	DEL	POC	TAL	HPT	MCH DNQ	ISF	TOL	DSF	TWS 27	ATL						147th	-	^[10]
1995	Sands Racing	43	Pontiac	DAY 20	ATL 28																								59th	-	^[11]
	Wayne Peterson Racing	06	Pontiac			TAL 42	FIF	KIL	FRS	MCH 16	I80	MCS	FRS	POC	POC	KIL	FRS	SBS	LVL	ISF	DSF	SLM	WIN	ATL DNQ
1996				DAY DNQ	ATL 20	SLM	TAL 34	FIF 25	LVL	CLT 31	CLT 20	KIL	FRS	POC															30th	-	^[12]
			Chevy												MCH 31	FRS	TOL	POC 30
	Ken Schrader Racing	51	Chevy																MCH 28	INF	SBS	ISF	DSF	KIL	SLM	WIN	CLT	ATL
1998	Info not available			DAY DNQ	ATL	SLM	CLT	MEM	MCH																				NA	0	^[13]
	Southtown Motorsports	9	Ford							POC 31	SBS	TOL	PPR	POC	KIL	FRS	ISF	ATL	DSF	SLM			CLT DNQ	TAL DNQ	ATL
	Brad Smith Motorsports	26	Ford																		TEX 19	WIN
1999				DAY DNQ	ATL DNQ	SLM	AND	CLT	MCH DNQ	POC	TOL	SBS	BLN	POC DNQ															78th	-	^[14]
	Wayne Peterson Racing	06	Pontiac												KIL 28	FRS 26	FLM	ISF	WIN	DSF	SLM	CLT	TAL	ATL
2000	Brad Smith Motorsports	26	Ford	DAY DNQ	SLM	AND	CLT DNQ	KIL	FRS	MCH DNQ	POC DNQ	TOL	KEN	BLN	POC	WIN	ISF	KEN	DSF	SLM	CLT	TAL	ATL						NA	-	^[15]
2001				DAY DNQ	NSH 37	WIN	SLM	GTY				MCH 32															TAL DNQ		14th	2685	^[16]
			Chevy						KEN 40	CLT 37	KAN 35		POC 24	MEM 33	GLN 22	KEN 37	MCH 38	POC 38	NSH 26	ISF 29	CHI 27	DSF 25	SLM 23	TOL 21	BLN 21	CLT 25		ATL 23
2002			Ford	DAY DNQ					CLT 30			MCH 28			KEN 24		POC 23	NSH 21			DSF 31	CHI 19	SLM 29	TAL 38	CLT 32				16th	3275	^[17]
			Chevy		ATL 40	NSH DNQ	SLM 27	KEN 27		KAN 19	POC 23		TOL 33	SBO 28		BLN 23			ISF 18	WIN 12
2003			Ford	DAY DNQ	ATL 22	NSH 29			KEN 26	CLT 28		KAN 14	MCH 21	LER 25	POC 16	POC 15	NSH 22	ISF 19	WIN 21	DSF 28	CHI 13	SLM 23	TAL QL^†	CLT DNQ	SBO 32				16th	3610	^[18]
			Chevy				SLM 18	TOL 23			BLN 27
2004			Ford	DAY 32	NSH 16	SLM 20	KEN 16	TOL 20	CLT 35	KAN 14	POC 21	MCH 28	SBO 20	BLN 22	KEN 27	GTW 18	POC 17	LER 19	NSH DNQ	ISF 15	TOL 29	DSF 16	CHI DNQ	SLM 16	TAL 32				14th	3735	^[19]
2005				DAY DNQ	NSH DNQ	SLM DNQ	KEN 19	TOL DNQ	LAN 20		POC 12	MCH 38	KAN 39	KEN 23	BLN 22	POC 17			NSH 28	MCH 25			DSF 35	CHI 21		TAL 40			16th	3285	^[20]
			Pontiac							MIL 25							GTW 25	LER 24			ISF 23	TOL 29			SLM 23
2006			Ford	DAY DNQ	NSH 31	SLM 20	WIN 22	KEN 31	TOL 34	POC 18	MCH 32	KAN 18	KEN 22	BLN 29	POC 23	GTW 30	NSH 24	MCH 26	ISF 15	MIL 24	TOL 22	DSF 17	CHI 26	SLM 18	TAL 15	IOW 20			14th	3750	^[21]
2007				DAY 19	USA 30	NSH 31	SLM 19	KAN 26	WIN 15	KEN 28	TOL 29	IOW 29	POC 31	MCH 29	BLN 28	KEN 35	POC 40	NSH 25	ISF 21	MIL 19	GTW 25	DSF 31	CHI 23	SLM 22	TAL DNQ	TOL DNQ			16th	3355	^[22]
2008			Dodge	DAY 29																									17th	3360	^[23]
			Ford		SLM 18	IOW 25	KAN 38	CAR 32	KEN 27	TOL 23	POC 22	MCH 30	CAY 15	KEN 25	BLN 23	POC 28	NSH 26	ISF 23	DSF 33	CHI 23	SLM 16	NJE 28		TOL 19
			Chevy																				TAL DNQ
2009			Ford	DAY DNQ	SLM 18	CAR 29	TAL 29	KEN 24	TOL 18	POC 27	MCH 26	MFD 24	IOW 25	KEN 24	BLN 29	POC 35	ISF 34	CHI 31	TOL 19	DSF 21	NJE 23	SLM 18	KAN 28	CAR 31					14th	3310	^[24]
2010				DAY 24	PBE 27	SLM 23	TEX 30	TAL 22	TOL 18	POC 16	MCH 24	IOW 21	MFD 19	POC 27	BLN 24	NJE 26	ISF 28	CHI 28	DSF 30	TOL 13	SLM 22	KAN 29							16th	3145	^[25]
			Chevy																				CAR 41
2011			Dodge	DAY	TAL 32																								12th	2410	^[26]
			Ford			SLM 25		NJE 33	CHI 26	POC 22	MCH 23	WIN 24	BLN 23	IOW 33	IRP DNQ	POC 23	ISF 19	MAD 28	DSF 32	SLM 25	KAN 27	TOL 32
		94					TOL 28
2012		26		DAY DNQ	MOB	SLM	TAL																						79th	250	^[27]
	Wayne Peterson Racing	0	Ford					TOL DNQ	ELK	POC	MCH 25	WIN	NJE	IOW	CHI 27	IRP	POC	BLN	ISF	MAD	SLM	DSF	KAN
2013	Roulo Brothers Racing	17	Ford	DAY	MOB	SLM	TAL	TOL	ELK	POC	MCH	ROA	WIN	CHI	NJE	POC	BLN 25	ISF	MAD										40th	690	^[28]
	Josh Williams Motorsports	02	Ford																	DSF 32	IOW
	Hixson Motorsports	3	Chevy																			SLM 27	KEN 29	KAN 29
2014	James Hylton Motorsports	48	Ford	DAY	MOB	SLM	TAL	TOL 23	NJE 16	POC	MCH 17	ELK 19	WIN 18		IRP 24	POC 19	BLN 18	ISF 20	MAD 19	DSF 15	SLM 22	KEN 26	KAN 19						11th	2450	^[29]
	Wayne Peterson Racing	00	Chevy											CHI 25
2015	James Hylton Motorsports	49	Ford	DAY 22																									31st	875	^[30]
		48			MOB 15	NSH 20	SLM 17	TAL 31	TOL	NJE	POC	MCH	CHI	WIN	IOW	IRP	POC	BLN	ISF	DSF	SLM	KEN	KAN
2016	Max Force Racing	23	Ford	DAY 32																									6th	3445	^[31]
	Hixson Motorsports	2	Chevy		NSH 30
	James Hylton Motorsports	48	Ford			SLM 22		TOL 23	NJE 20	POC 25	MCH 19	MAD 15	WIN 14	IOW 22			BLN 13	ISF 15	DSF 12	SLM 17		KEN 18	KAN 21
		2					TAL 24
	Wayne Peterson Racing	31	Chevy												IRP 33
	James Hylton Motorsports	49	Ford													POC 18
	Wayne Peterson Racing	0	Chevy																		CHI 30
2017	James Hylton Motorsports	48	Ford	DAY 17	NSH 21	SLM 17	TAL 17	TOL 17	ELK 17	POC 31	MCH 20	MAD 16	IOW 17	IRP 24	POC 24	WIN 19	ISF 17	ROA 24	DSF 21	SLM 21	CHI 26	KEN 26	KAN 22						8th	3530	^[32]
2018				DAY 23	NSH 22	SLM Wth	TAL 31																						9th	3250	^[33]
	Brad Smith Motorsports							TOL 16	CLT 30	POC 20	MCH 17	MAD 14	GTW 17	CHI 22	IOW 15	ELK 17	POC 22	ISF 14	BLN 16	DSF 17	SLM 20	IRP 22	KAN 25
2019			Chevy	DAY 19			TAL 16			CLT 23	POC 15	MCH 13		GTW 15	CHI 16		IOW 17	POC 16					KAN 20						7th	3480	^[34]
			Ford		FIF 16	SLM 19		NSH 20	TOL				MAD 15			ELK 19			ISF 16	DSF 16	SLM 18	IRP 19
2020			Chevy	DAY 31	PHO	TAL 20	POC 13	IRP 17	KEN 12	IOW 19	KAN 16	TOL 13	TOL 14	MCH 12	DAY 19	GTW 19	L44 13	TOL 17	BRI 25	WIN 9	MEM 15	ISF 13	KAN 15						6th	624	^[35]
2021				DAY	PHO	TAL	KAN	TOL	CLT	MOH	POC	ELK	BLN	IOW	WIN	GLN	MCH	ISF	MLW	DSF	BRI	SLM							5th	567	^[36]
	Wayne Peterson Racing	06	Chevy																				KAN
2022	Brad Smith Motorsports	48	Chevy	DAY	PHO	TAL	KAN	CLT	IOW	BLN	ELK	MOH	POC	IRP	MCH	GLN	ISF	MLW	DSF	KAN	BRI	SLM	TOL						8th	709	^[37]
2023				DAY		TAL	KAN	CLT		ELK						GLN	ISF		DSF	KAN	BRI	SLM							6th	686	^[38]
			Ford		PHO				BLN		MOH	IOW	POC	MCH	IRP								TOL
		69	Ford															MLW
2024		48		DAY		TAL	DOV	KAN	CLT	IOW	MOH	BLN	IRP	SLM	ELK	MCH	ISF	MLW	DSF	GLN	BRI	KAN	TOL						-*	-*	^[39]
			Chevy		PHO
^† - Qualified but replaced by Paul Menard

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8		Pts	Ref
2020	Brad Smith Motorsports	48	Chevy	NSM	TOL	DOV	TOL	BRI	FIF			13th	101	^[40]
2021				NSM	FIF	NSV	DOV	SNM	IOW	MLW	BRI	14th	146	^[41]
2022				NSM	FIF	DOV	NSV	IOW	MLW	BRI		5th	245	^[42]
2023			Ford	FIF	DOV			IOW	IRP			10th	186	^[43]
			Chevy			NSV	FRS				BRI
	Kimmel Racing	69	Ford							MLW
2024	Brad Smith Motorsports	48	Ford	FIF	DOV	NSV	FRS	IOW	IRP	MLW	BRI	-*	-*	^[44]

ARCA Menards Series West

ARCA Menards Series West results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12		Pts	Ref
2021	Brad Smith Motorsports	48	Chevy	PHO	SON	IRW	CNS	IRW	PIR	LVS	AAS	PHO				63rd	18	^[45]
2022				PHO	IRW	KCR	PIR	SON	IRW	EVG	PIR	AAS	LVS	PHO		69th	10	^[46]
2023			Ford	PHO	IRW	KCR	PIR	SON	IRW	SHA	EVG	AAS	LVS	MAD	PHO	73rd	14	^[47]
2024			Chevy	PHO	KER	PIR	SON	IRW	IRW	SHA	TRI	MAD	AAS	KER	PHO	-*	-*	^[48]

Notes and References

1. News: Brudenell . Mike . A Racing Love Affair . September 20, 2020 . Detroit Free Press . Newspapers.com . June 9, 2010.
2. Web site: Brad Smith Injured In a Crash At Talladega. Daniels. Tim. bleacherreport.com. 2015-05-02.
3. Web site: Dropping The Hammer: Guest ARCA Driver Brad Smith . Spreaker . October 11, 2020.
4. News: Brudenell . Smith arguably the toughest driver in ARCA . September 20, 2020 . Detroit Free Press . June 10, 2016.
5. Web site: General Tire Presents Spirit Award To Veteran Driver Brad Smith . After Market News . September 20, 2020 . December 13, 2016.
6. Web site: NASCAR, racing communities react to the death of James Hylton . NASCAR on NBC . NBC Sports . September 20, 2020 . April 28, 2018.
7. Web site: Pohly . George . Brad Smith, brother stay in ARCA racing with crew that's 'like family' . Macomb Daily . September 20, 2020 . June 7, 2019.
8. Web site: Kaminski . Steve . Michigan driver posts first ARCA top-10 finish in 363rd career start . MLive . September 20, 2020 . September 19, 2020.
9. Web site: Brad Smith – 1988 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
10. Web site: Brad Smith – 1991 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
11. Web site: Brad Smith – 1995 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
12. Web site: Brad Smith – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
13. Web site: Brad Smith – 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
14. Web site: Brad Smith – 1999 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
15. Web site: Brad Smith – 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
16. Web site: Brad Smith – 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
17. Web site: Brad Smith – 2002 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
18. Web site: Brad Smith – 2003 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
19. Web site: Brad Smith – 2004 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
20. Web site: Brad Smith – 2005 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
21. Web site: Brad Smith – 2006 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
22. Web site: Brad Smith – 2007 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
23. Web site: Brad Smith – 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
24. Web site: Brad Smith – 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
25. Web site: Brad Smith – 2010 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
26. Web site: Brad Smith – 2011 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
27. Web site: Brad Smith – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
28. Web site: Brad Smith – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
29. Web site: Brad Smith – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
30. Web site: Brad Smith – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
31. Web site: Brad Smith – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
32. Web site: Brad Smith – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
33. Web site: Brad Smith – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. May 10, 2018.
34. Web site: Brad Smith – 2019 ARCA Menards Series Results . Racing-Reference . March 10, 2019.
35. Web site: Brad Smith – 2020 ARCA Menards Series Results . Racing Reference . NASCAR Digital Media, LLC . October 4, 2020.
36. Web site: Brad Smith – 2021 ARCA Menards Series Results. Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 14, 2021.
37. Web site: Brad Smith – 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results. Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 13, 2023.
38. Web site: Brad Smith – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results. Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 21, 2023.
39. Web site: Brad Smith – 2024 ARCA Menards Series Results. Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 17, 2024.
40. Web site: Brad Smith – 2020 ARCA Menards East Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 19, 2020.
41. Web site: Brad Smith – 2021 ARCA Menards Series East Results. Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 25, 2021.
42. Web site: Brad Smith – 2022 ARCA Menards Series East results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 16, 2022.
43. Web site: Brad Smith – 2023 ARCA Menards Series East results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 2, 2023.
44. Web site: Brad Smith – 2024 ARCA Menards Series East results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 20, 2024.
45. Web site: Brad Smith – 2021 ARCA Menards Series West Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 14, 2021.
46. Web site: Brad Smith – 2022 ARCA Menards Series West Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 13, 2022.
47. Web site: Brad Smith – 2023 ARCA Menards Series West Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 28, 2023.
48. Web site: Brad Smith – 2024 ARCA Menards Series West Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 8, 2024.