Joel Smith, an already well-accomplished driver in Legend Cars, has won the 2025 Pro Asphalt National Championship and North Carolina State Championship. Along with his success on the track, Smith was the first person to ever hit an 11,000 oval asphalt iRating on iRacing. As he has past success, his eyes are still on the prize for this year's national championship race.
Hometown: Temperance, Michigan
Number: 24
Team: Independent
Division: Legend Car Pro
Favorite track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring
1. How did you get your start in racing?
When I was 8 years old, I went to my parents and said [racing] is something I want to do, and something I want to try out. We bought a quarter midget and ran it on dirt for about a year for fun, and then it slowly turned into us moving to Bandoleros. We ran those for a couple of years and then moved on to Legends, and that’s pretty much where I’ve been ever since.
2. How did you get your number?
I had always loved 24 from Chase Elliot in 2017; that’s what I started out with, and I pretty much stuck with it since then.
3. Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration getting into [racing] was Joey Logano because he was homeschooled and I was as well, but he had also done the whole family team thing where his parents had taken care of his cars and just tried to do the absolute best they could to get him into NASCAR. So, that’s kind of who my inspiration was getting into it. But overall I would say by biggest inspiration in racing is definitely Dennis Lambert for all that he’s taught me and done for me. I wouldn’t be where I am without him.
4. What has been your favorite racing memory?
I have two that tie, the first one is winning the 2022 Asphalt Nationals in Las Vegas. I was 13 at the time. That was one of my favorites, it was one of the coolest events I had ever won, we were out in Las Vegas, you know. We finished 5th last year at Asphalt Nationals in Pro, but we found out at the end of the race that it had been just enough for me to win the National Championship, and that was one of the coolest feelings I could ever experience. Knowing the one spot I got was enough to win the National Championship.
5. You have done some CARS Tour races as well, how was that adapting process and getting used to that car compared to a Legend Car?
It's definitely a lot different; it’s a full-body car you’re sitting over to the left, so it took some time to get used to that. It was a very cool experience; they race so much differently. You’re trying to consistently manage your stuff and be patient instead of going 25 laps up to the front. It was a really awesome experience.
6. What is your favorite track?
I like the Bullring at Las Vegas, it just has some kind of different feeling to it when I run it. I don’t know if it’s because it’s West Coast and it’s a lot different, but I just have a different feeling when I run it and I just love it so so much. The way it races, too, it’s so much fun. In my opinion, you can start dead last in nationals and probably end up winning the race.
7. How has being so successful in iRacing translated into success in Legend Cars?
It’s definitely helped a lot; I’ve learned a lot of race craft and knowledge over the years on iRacing. When I first started out in Legends, I had no experience, but thanks to iRacing I had race craft from all the races I did prior. It kind of advanced the learning curve in a way and helped me get up to speed quicker.
8. Your brother just got into Legend Cars, so how has it been helping him out with that transition?
It’s been fun. It’s definitely a lot different. I've had to basically transition into a crew chief and driver's coach role at the same time. But it’s been really fun; it seems like he really enjoys it, and it’s awesome to see him run the same car that I run.
9. What are your racing goals for this year and beyond?
For the Shootout, right now the goal is to at least get a win and place Top 5 in points, but also take care of my and my brother’s car in such a competitive field against so many top teams an drivers. The ultimate goal is to win Asphalt Nationals; that’s one bucket list item in the Pro Division that I haven’t achieved yet, and I would really love to achieve that. Hopefully make a couple more CARS Tour starts as well; we’re actively looking for sponsors and trying to find some funding. The ultimate goals right now are really to just get a win and Top 5 in points at the Shootout, and then have enough momentum going into nationals.
10. If you could pick any track in the world to race on, what would it be?
I think I would still pick Vegas; it just races so well, and it’s just a different vibe. Half of the races I've run there I've run under the sunset or at night and it’s just such a cool vibe.
11. What’s the biggest lesson racing has taught you in life?
Just keep doing your absolute best, I mean, there’s going to be days when you don’t have the days you want, and then there’s days where you’re on top of the world. Just never quit whatsoever- that’s kind of always been our philosophy.
12. What are some hobbies you have outside of racing?
Obviously iRacing, I do collect and sell sports cards a little bit, and then just working on me and my brother's car full time. Outside of that, that’s really it- just really dedicated to racing at this point and trying to advance to the next level.