The LFR Driver Development Group continues to add young talent to its lineup, as 13-year-old Chandler Smith is set to join the group for the 2016 season. The Jasper, Ga. native, who has been racing since age four, has previously only raced a Super Late Model once and is ready to further his experience with the LFR team.
“We are looking forward to having Chandler as our in-house Pro Late model driver,” said Rob Fuller, team owner. “We know there is a big market out there for those cars and putting Chandler in Victory Lane at his young age will help us with promoting our LFR brand in this market. He is a young, talented up-and-coming driver that we look forward to mentoring in the future. He will be a perfect fit here to move up to Super Late Models when our other drivers move up to the K&N Series.”
Smith, who tried everything from baseball and basketball to football, found his passion at age four when he begin racing Go Karts. From there he moved up in competition to quarter midgets, which he ran from 2007 to 2011. During that time, Smith racked up the titles including the 2010 QMA Jr. Stock National and Eastern Grands Champion, and the 2010 USAC Jr. Honda, Jr. Stock, and Light Mod National Champion.
“I grew up watching NASCAR and one day I just decided it was something I wanted to do,” said Smith. “I told my dad I wanted to try it and we just went from there. We started out with go karts but then quickly moved to Quarter Midgets and Bandoleros, and now have been focusing on Late Models and Super Late Models.”
Smith competed in INEX Bandoleros from 2012 to 2014. During this time he was the three-time Atlanta Motor Speedway Bandolero Bandit Champion, as well as the 2014 Charlotte Motor Speedway Summer Shootout Bandolero Bandit Champion.
In 2015, Smith took the next step in his career by competing in his rookie season of Pro Late Model racing. He secured one win in the PASS Pro Late Model Series at South Carolina’s Anderson Motor Speedway, along with multiple top-five finishes. Smith also made his first and only Super Late Model start of his career so far at Anderson Motor Speedway in June 2015.
“It’s exciting to be taking this next step of my racing career with the LFR Driver Development Group,” explained Smith. “I’m really hoping to learn more about the technical side of things like car setup and what it needs to run well. I also am hoping to learn more about what I need to be doing as a driver to get more out of a car during a race.”
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