Chandler Smith secures 2027 Richard Childress Racing deal

It has been years in the making, but Chandler Smith is finally getting his chance with Richard Childress Racing in 2027. The Front Row Motorsports driver admitted he is giddy about the opportunity, which stems from talks that began as far back as the conclusion of 2023 when Smith departed Kaulig Racing's NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program.

Back then, RCR offered him the No. 2 Chevrolet that ultimately went to Jesse Love after Sheldon Creed left the organization. Smith was already far down the road with Joe Gibbs Racing at that point, choosing to stay the course with the Toyota camp instead. But the belief shown by RCR leadership, including Danny Lawrence and Richard Childress himself, never stopped.

“Every single year from 2023 on, 2024, 2025 and at the start of this year, it’s always been a conversation that we’ve had,” Smith said.

Now, the 24-year-old father of two toddlers has secured a multiyear contract to pilot the No. 21 machine. Stability and a path to the NASCAR Cup Series were massive factors in the move. With Jesse Love shifting to the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing and Austin Hill moving full time to the No. 33 car in Cup for RCR, openings in the blue-collar organization's O’Reilly program cleared the path for Smith.

Austin Dillon, the 2013 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, voiced his excitement over the signing, noting that Smith has already proven he can win in both the O’Reilly Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. Unlike his lone season with Joe Gibbs Racing, Smith feels the RCR machine matches what he needs on paper without the weight of proving himself from scratch.

Before any 2027 plans take center stage, however, Smith has a championship to chase. He enters the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase presented by Mobil 1 at Bristol Motor Speedway as the No. 3 seed. Packing two victories this year—a frantic last-lap drive in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February and a win at North Wilkesboro Speedway in July—he boasts a 10.9 average finish through 18 regular-season events alongside nine top-five finishes.

Teammate Layne Riggs, who will return to Front Row in the Truck Series in 2027, joins Smith as part of a strong Front Row contingent heading into the postseason with six wins under his belt. Far from being a distraction, having his 2027 future secured early has given Smith clear focus for the next two months.