Wikipedia

Mamba Smith

Dylan "Mamba" Smith (born June 9, 1992) is an American social media personality, commentator, and racing driver of Haitian descent. He currently works as an analyst for NASCAR.com (where he is mostly known for his unofficial role as the "Chief Hype Officer of NASCAR") and NASCAR on Fox. As a driver, he has competed in late model racing and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series.

Dylan "Mamba" Smith
Smith at Dover Motor Speedway in 2024
BornDylan Smith
(1992-06-09) June 9, 1992 (age 32)
Randolph, Vermont, U.S.
Achievements2008 Allison Legacy Race Series North Champion
ARCA Menards Series career
2 races run over 2 years
Best finish84th (2023)
First race2022 Reese's 200 (IRP)
Last race2023 Shore Lunch 200 (Toledo)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 2 0
ARCA Menards Series West career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish53rd (2023)
First race2023 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of May 17, 2024.

Racing career

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Early career

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Smith would get a head start in racing at the age of 4, after his father purchased him a go-kart due to his love for Thunder Road International SpeedBowl, his home track growing up. He and his father would win up to 100 go-kart races together, which grew Smith's love for racing. After years of running go-karts, Smith would begin driving in the Allison Legacy Race Series North in 2006, in which he won the championship in 2008.[1]

Late models

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In 2008, Smith began racing late models locally at Thunder Road and Airborne Speedway in New York. In 2011, he was invited by Rev Racing to attend the team's NASCAR Drive for Diversity combine in North Carolina. Smith performed decently in his first season, but was not offered a role in their development program. He attempted to receive the role a year later, but was denied a spot on the team. He was later offered a job as a mechanic for the team, in which he accepted, working with future NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, who ended up winning the K&N Pro Series East title that year. Along with working as a mechanic, he ran ten races in the 2012 Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway, earning seven top tops and two top fives.[2]

Smith left Rev Racing after the 2013 season and accepted a job with Stewart-Haas Racing for 2014. During the summer, he joined Buzze Racing to run select races in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Anderson Motor Speedway. Because of his job at SHR, he received sponsorship from Haas Automation for his late model efforts.[1]

He left SHR after 2014 and would ultimately be accepted into Rev Racing's Drive for Diversity program in the class of 2015. That year, he ran late models at Hickory Motor Speedway and New Smyrna Speedway.[3] He eventually accepted a job at MDM Motorsports in 2017 as a communication director; for which he was the public relations assistant for Bubba Wallace, who won the truck series race at Michigan International Speedway later in the year. After MDM shut down operations following the 2018 season, he would be left without a job in NASCAR.[2]

After not running any races for nearly five years, he returned to late model racing in 2020, running a CARS Tour event at Hickory, finishing 10th after starting 12th.[4] On November 21, 2021, it was announced that Smith would attempt to make his third start in the Snowflake 100, driving the 34 for Bryan Rogers Racing. He would end up failing to qualify.[5] The following year, he competed in the South Carolina 400 for Dodge Mopar Motorsports at Florence Motor Speedway, failing to qualify.[6] A year later, he ran a CARS Tour race at Tri-County Motor Speedway for Huffman Racing, he started 17th and finished 14th.[7]

ARCA Series

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In 2015, it was rumored that Smith would make his ARCA Racing Series debut late in the season, but the deal would ultimately fall through. On July 21, 2022, it was announced that Smith would make his official ARCA Menards Series debut at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, driving the 02 car for Young's Motorsports. Smith ran inside the top ten for a majority of the race, finishing 9th after starting 8th.[8]

On September 29, 2023, Smith announced that he will return to Young's Motorsports, running the ARCA Menards Series West race at Phoenix Raceway in November.[9] On October 4, he announced that he will drive the No. 15 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports at Toledo Speedway.[10] He finished the race in 9th 4 laps down due to an on-track incident with Jon Garrett.

Media career

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Since 2021, Smith has served as an analyst for NASCAR.com, having the unofficial role of "Chief Hype Officer" of NASCAR, conducting interviews with drivers and running some of NASCAR's social media work. He also is an analyst for the NASCAR YouTube show, Backseat Drivers, and the co-host of Mark, Mamba and The Mayor, a podcast that features former drivers Mark Martin and Jeff Burton.[11]

Smith made his debut as a pit reporter with NASCAR on Fox in the 2024 ARCA race at Dover Motor Speedway. He has also appeared on Fox's Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast alongside Kevin Harvick himself as well as Kaitlyn Vincie in 2024. He also appears in TruTV/TNT Sports tv show NASCAR Inside The Playoffs.

Personal life

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Smith was born on June 9, 1992, and was adopted shortly after birth. He and his family moved to Randolph, Vermont at a young age, where he spent most of his life. Smith would earn the nickname "Black Mamba" after go-karting with a group of friends, in which he chose it as his racer name. He was a fan of Tony Stewart growing up, and also played basketball and kickball in high school.[1] Smith has frequently used the number 34 for his late model races as a tribute to Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to win a race in NASCAR's top premier series. He is close friends with fellow drivers Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney.[7]

Motorsports career results

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ARCA Menards Series

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

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
2022 Young's Motorsports 02 Chevy DAY PHO TAL KAN CLT IOW BLN ELK MOH POC IRP
9 		MCH GLN ISF MLW DSF KAN BRI SLM TOL 85th 35 [12]
2023 Venturini Motorsports 15 Toyota DAY PHO TAL KAN CLT BLN ELK MOH IOW POC MCH IRP GLN ISF MLW DSF KAN BRI SLM TOL
9 		84th 35 [13]

ARCA Menards Series West

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ARCA Menards Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 AMSWC Pts Ref
2023 Young's Motorsports 02 Chevy PHO IRW KCR PIR SON IRW SHA EVG AAS LVS MAD PHO
15 		53rd 29 [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Allen, David (December 24, 2014). "Dylan Smith (Black Mamba) – From being an adopted Haitian kid to Stewart-Haas Racing…". RaceGear.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Haislop, Tadd (July 21, 2022). "Mamba Smith's unique journey of passion, companionship reaches IRP for ARCA Menards Series debut". ARCA. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "Fresh Faces Fill 2015 NASCAR Drive For Diversity Roster". Rev Racing. January 26, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Dylan Smith (VT) - Results - 2020 Solid Rock Carriers CARS Super Late Model Tour". The Third Turn. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  5. ^ Christie, Toby (November 29, 2021). "Mamba Smith Teaming With Bryan Rogers, Attempting to Make Third Snowflake 100 Start". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Christie, Toby (November 16, 2022). "Mamba Smith to Team With Dodge Mopar Motorsports to Run South Carolina 400 For Lee Faulk Racing". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Carey, Michael (May 29, 2021). "It's A Great Day to Be Alive for Dylan "Mamba" Smith". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Christie, Toby (July 21, 2022). "Mamba Smith Making ARCA Menards Series Debut at IRP For Young's Motorsports". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Kornhoff, Taylor (September 29, 2023). "Dylan Smith Returning to ARCA at Phoenix". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "(Twitter post)". Twitter. ARCA Menards Series. October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023. Surprise! Surprise! @MambaSmith34 is racing at @ToledoSpeedway with @VenturiniMotor this Saturday! Find out when/how he found out!
  11. ^ "Teammates again: Mark Martin, Jeff Burton join Mamba Smith on new podcast venture". Yahoo! Sports. May 13, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  12. ^ "Dylan Smith – 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  13. ^ "Dylan Smith – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "Dylan Smith – 2023 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
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