Chandler Smith is set to attempt qualifying for the 68th Daytona 500 next month, driving the No. 36 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports (FRM). FRM already has three guaranteed entries through charters: Noah Gragson in the No. 4, Todd Gilliland in the No. 34, and Zane Smith in the No. 38.
Smith, who races full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for FRM, has tried to make the Daytona 500 twice before, in 2023 and 2025, but didn’t qualify either time. He will be representing his third different team in pursuit of competing in NASCAR’s premier race. In 2023, Smith raced for Kaulig Racing and finished 18th in Duel #1, missing out by 10 spots. In 2025, driving for Garage 66, he was leading Duel #1 before a crash ended his run.
Despite limited Cup Series starts, Smith has consistently finished in the top 20, with his best results that season being 17th at Richmond, 15th at Daytona’s summer race, and 13th at Talladega. At 23 years old, he has already secured multiple wins: three in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, seven in the Craftsman Truck Series, and ten in ARCA competition.
The 2026 Daytona 500 will feature a strong contingent of open-entry drivers competing for limited spots, including Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports), Corey LaJoie (RFK Racing), Corey Heim (23XI Racing), Anthony Alfredo (Beard Motorsports), BJ McLeod (Live Fast Motorsports), JJ Yeley (NY Racing Team), and Casey Mears (Garage 66). Jimmie Johnson, driving the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, has a guaranteed place via an open exception, leaving eight drivers battling for four open positions on the grid.
Fan Take: Chandler Smith’s ongoing struggle and determination to break into the Daytona 500 highlight the fierce competitiveness of NASCAR’s top-tier events, bringing compelling narratives to the sport. This not only adds depth to the driver lineup but also fuels fan excitement, showing that new talent is eager and ready to challenge the established order at NASCAR’s most prestigious race.
