R. J. Smotherman
R. J. Smotherman is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed in the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 9 Ford for Jan's Towing Racing.
Racing career
Smotherman started competing in bandoleros in 2013 at the age of eight. In 2022, Smotherman would make select starts in both the West Coast Sport Compact Series and the Lucas Oil Modified Series.On August 20, 2022, Smotherman would make his debut in the ARCA Menards Series West at Evergreen Speedway driving the No. 21 Ford for Lowden Motorsports, where he would start 13th and finish 15th due to handling issues. He would then make three more starts with the team later in the year, earning his first top-ten finish at All-American Speedway with a seventh-place finish.
On February 28, 2023, it was announced that Smotherman would run with the renamed Lowden Jackson Motorsports in the No. 46 Ford full-time in the ARCA Menards Series West. He is also announced to run select events in the ARCA Menards Series East. He would also make his debut in the main ARCA Menards Series at Phoenix Raceway in March, as it was a companion event with the West Series. After running the first three races, he would be replaced for the next two rounds at Portland International Raceway and Sonoma Raceway by Kyle Sieg and Stefan Rzesnowiecky respectively. After withdrawing from the second Irwindale Speedway race, he would move over to Kart Idaho Racing in the No. 38 Chevrolet at All American Speedway, where he would finish eighth.
In 2025, Smotherman return to the West Series at All American Speedway, this time driving the No. 9 Ford for Jan's Towing Racing, where he finished in thirteenth.