Newly crowned ARCA Menards Series East champion Sammy Smith joins Davey (9:40) to discuss what life is like for a teenager who also happens to be a NASCAR champion. He also dives into how he got his start in racing, his experience in legends cars (and heartbreak) before graduating to super late models and stock cars, driving for an extensive list of big names in motorsports and the pressure of driving for said big names (i.e. Kyle Busch).
He also discusses winning the pro late model championship at only 14-years-old at New Smyrna Speedway, how his ARCA East campaign with Joe Gibbs Racing came about, why his goal was to win the championship from day one despite not knowing if they’d run the full season and when he knew he was going to be the dominator of the season. Smith’s relationship with Ty Gibbs is a close one, and he details how the two met, formed a friendship, whether or not he races him any differently and why the public perception of the 18-year-old is a skewed one. Plus, his living situation in Iowa and how often he travels to North Carolina, the racing scene growing up, impact the Annett family has had on him in racing, his plans for the 2022 season and more.
Davey also provides an update on his West Coast road trip and Papa Segal gives listeners a peek behind the curtain to Davey’s past life, as he pays homage to the driver who piloted the No. 29 and sparked his son’s obsession with NASCAR.
