UPDATE: On Tuesday, JD Motorsports officially announced the addition of Garrett Smithley to the organization’s NASCAR Xfinity Series driver lineup, starting with Saturday’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Smithley, who has jumped between several teams to start the year, will replace Bayley Currey as the full-time driver of the No. 4. The Pennsylvania native will contest the balance of the year in the entry.
“It’s great to have Garrett [Smithley] back,” said team owner Johnny Davis. “He’s easy to work with, has the talent to get the most out of our race cars, and knows when to go and when to be patient. We’re excited to pick up where we left off with him, Preparing fast, reliable cars to race.”
Trophy Tractor, a long-time partner of Smithley’s racing efforts, will serve as a primary partner of the No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro in several events.
“I can’t wait to get back to Atlanta Motor Speedway,” said Smithley, who began his racing career at Atlanta. “Old Atlanta was my favorite track, but running the cup last year on the new surface was valuable, and I’m excited to take what I learned to JDM.”
The news was first reported by TobyChristie.com on Monday, March 13.
Editor’s Note: Following the original publishing of this story, an additional source revealed to TobyChristie.com that Garrett Smithley will pilot the No. 4 JD Motorsports entry for the entire remaining balance of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, rather than the 14 races originally reported.
As the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns from its annual ‘West Coast Swing’, the series will experience some mid-field driver shuffling for the second time in as many weeks, this time with JD Motorsports, TobyChristie.com has learned.
Bayley Currey, who was scheduled to return to JD Motorsports for a second straight season, will depart the two-car organization, effective immediately, a crew member from the organization tells TobyChristie.com on the condition of anonymity.
Garrett Smithley, who previously drove for JD Motorsports on a full-time basis for four seasons between 2016 and 2019, will take over the driving duties of the No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro for the remaining 29 NASCAR Xfinity Series events in 2023, starting Saturday at Atlanta.
Smithley was announced as the full-time pilot of the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro for BJ McLeod Motorsports, but jumped to DGM Racing for last weekend’s event at Phoenix Raceway after BJMM shuttered its second entry.
Ahead of last weekend’s event at Phoenix, Smithley announced his move to DGM Racing, touting a multi-race agreement to pilot the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro for the two-car organization. No word if the Pennsylvania native will honor those events with DGM.
It’s been a tumultuous start to the 2023 Xfinity Series season for Currey, who has only managed to notch a pair of top-30 finishes in the opening four races of the year, collecting a season-high 28th at both Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Entering Atlanta, JD Motorsports has its two full-time entries sitting 32nd (No. 6) and 34th (No. 4) in 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series owner points, sitting in a position often referred to as “the danger zone”.
Luckily for Smithley, who has also had a dismal start to the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, his return to JD Motorsports will be accompanied by some familiarity, from the people around him to crew chief Wayne Carroll, who he worked with for 17 events in 2018.
Currey is still scheduled to compete part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Niece Motorsports, beginning this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, any additional events in the NASCAR Xfinity Series are to be determined.
TobyChristie.com has reached out to JD Motorsports in an attempt to obtain a comment on the re-hiring of Garrett Smithley but has yet to receive a response as of the time of publishing this story. Should a response be obtained, this story will be updated.
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