Jonathan Smith (born November 3, 1986) is an American professional

stock car racing Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing run on oval tracks and road courses measuring approximately . It originally used production-model cars, hence the name "stock car", but is now run using cars specifically built for racing. It ori ...

driver who competed in the NASCAR East Series full-time for three years from

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. In 2010, his most recent season as a driver, Smith ran part-time in the same series.

Racing career

Smith started racing at the age of five on dirtbikes, by the age of 12 he was racing BMX bicycles, where he was crowned State Champion in his first year. At the age of 14, Smith began racing go-karts in the Nite Series at Poughkeepsie Speedway in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

proving himself in his first year by finishing in second place in both series' championships. In his second year of competition, Smith moved to Stock Light division, Poughkeepsie Speedway's most competitive go-karting class, where he took home the championship. In 2001, Smith decided to take a break from racing to focus on high school. When he returned to racing the spring of 2006, he entered into automobile racing in the

Dodge Weekly Series The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (formerly the Whelen All-American Series, Winston Racing Series and the Dodge Weekly Series) is a points championship for NASCAR sanctioned local short track motor racing around the United States and Ca ...

driving a late-model in the NASCAR sanctioned division. In his rookie season, with the help of Ryan Posocco Racing, Smith's team ran at Stafford Motor Speedway in

Stafford Springs, Connecticut Stafford Springs is a census-designated place located in Stafford, Connecticut. The population was 4,988 at the 2010 Census. The village was a borough until November 1991, when it was disincorporated. Located near the source of the Willimantic R ...

and finished in the top third of the championship race, and as the runner up in the Rookie of the Year competition. Smith's talent did not go unnoticed, and he was selected to participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program where he was placed with veteran Barney McRae and Motion Racing in 2007. During this season, Smith debuted in the NASCAR Busch East Series, NASCAR's top developmental racing series. Smith finished the year 16th in the point standings, scoring a top 5 finish in only his second series race. In 2008, Smith joined Troy Williams Racing with Sean Watts to pilot their No. 21 Aqua Pure Health/Raintree Vacations Dodge in the newly named Camping World Series East (formerly Busch East, currently K&N Pro Series). He also drove in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program for a second season that year.NASCAR Announces Drive For Diversity Class for 2008 , NASCAR Home Tracks
/ref> In the 2009 season, Smith was brought on by two time series champion Mike Olson and Fadden Racing. He returned to Fadden in 2010 to run a limited schedule, but has not raced in the East Series or any other series since then.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(

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

K&N Pro Series East

References

External links

* *http://www.jonathansmithracing.com *https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jonathan-Smith-Racing/267324999784 *https://web.archive.org/web/20140110144938/http://faddenracing.com/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Jonathan 1986 births Living people NASCAR drivers People from Beacon Falls, Connecticut Sportspeople from New Haven County, Connecticut Racing drivers from Connecticut