Jonathan Smith (NASCAR Driver)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born November 3, 1986, Jonathan Smith resides in quiet Beacon Falls, CT when not tearing it up on the race track. Jonathan started his racing adventure at the age of five, when he started racing dirtbikes. Quickly deeming motorcycles too dangerous, his parents set him on BMX bicycles, where Jonathan was crowned state champion in his first year of competition. After numerous BMX wins, the Smith crew decided to step the game up to motors once again, only this time it was on four wheels. Jonathan kicked off his go-kart career with a second place finish at Limerock Park. Identifying the potential that Jonathan held, his schedule was expanded to add the Nite Series at Poughkeepsie Speedway in Poughkeepsie, New York. Jonathan proved himself in that first year finishing second in both series' championships. In his second year of competition, Jonathan stepped up to Stock Light competition, Poughkeepsie Speedway's most competitive class. Again proving his worth as a driver, Jonathan took home the championship. Jonathan decided to take a vacation from racing to focus on his studies during high school, but returned to the arena a year after graduation. The spring of 2006 marked Jonathan Smith’s entry into automobile racing, in the Dodge Weekly Series, driving a late-model in the NASCAR sanctioned division. Jonathan’s team ran at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT. The rookie season presented a steep learning curve, but with assistance from Ryan Posocco Racing, Jonathan met the challenge with confidence, finishing in the top third of the championship race, and as the runner up in the Rookie of the Year competition. Jonathan's talent did not go unnoticed, as he was selected to drive for series veteran Barney McRae and Motion Racing in the 2007 Nascar Busch East Grand National Series, Nascar's top developmental racing series. Jonathan finished the year 16th in the point standings, scoring a top 5 finish in only his second series race. 2008 brings many changes, as Jonathan is once again under the banner of a new team. Troy Williams Racing with Sean Watts signed Jonathan to pilot their #21 Aqua Pure Health/Raintree Vacations Dodge in the newly named Camping World Series East (formerly Busch East). Follow Jonathan's progress throughout the season as he competes for the Camping World East championship.

Visit him on the web at myspace.com/jonathansmithracing