R. J. Smotherman

R. J. Smotherman (born March 27, 2005) is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 46 Ford for Lowden Jackson Motorsports and the No. 38 Chevrolet for Kart Idaho Racing, and part-time in both the ARCA Menards Series East and the main ARCA Menards Series driving for Lowden Jackson.

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.

Personal life
Smotherman currently attends at the Pahrump Valley High School and is intending on attending college at Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada.

ARCA Menards Series
(key) ( Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led. )