Sammy Smith is making a major career move for the 2027 NASCAR season, as TRICON Garage announced Friday that the 22 year-old driver will compete full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series next year.
Smith will pilot the No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, marking his first full-time campaign in the Truck Series. The announcement gives Smith a new opportunity to compete for victories while joining one of the series’ strongest organizations.
After spending the past four seasons competing full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Smith is ready for a new challenge. He has earned three victories in that series, along with numerous top five and top 10 finishes, establishing himself as a competitive driver in NASCAR’s national ranks.
Smith also has experience in the Truck Series. Across his previous starts, he has recorded two top-five finishes and six top 10s, showing that he has the potential to compete against the division’s established drivers.
Smith Returns to Toyota Program
Joining TRICON also means Smith will return to Toyota’s driver development program. The organization has built a reputation for developing young talent and competing near the front of the Truck Series field.
Smith will replace Tanner Gray in the No. 15 truck. Gray’s future plans have not been announced, making the change a notable part of TRICON’s preparations for next season.
The move comes after Smith spent the past several seasons racing for JR Motorsports in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. With a new opportunity ahead, he will look to translate that experience into consistent results in the Truck Series.
TRICON Builds Its 2027 Lineup
Smith will join Kaden Honeycutt, Giovanni Ruggiero and newly announced teammate Dawson Sutton as TRICON’s confirmed full-time drivers for 2027. Sutton will pilot the No. 5 Toyota, while Honeycutt and Ruggiero return to their respective entries.
TRICON will also continue operating its No. 1 truck with a rotating lineup of drivers.
For Smith, the upcoming season represents an important opportunity to establish himself in a new division and compete for his first Truck Series victory. With a competitive team behind him and experience across NASCAR’s national series, expectations will be high as he begins this next chapter in 2027.