JCM Motorsports has tapped Brenden Smith of Dade City, Fla., as its full-time driver for 2026, team owner Colten Miller told DirtonDirt on Wednesday ahead of the duo’s debut in Friday’s Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals prelim at The Dome at America’s Center.

The 20-year-old Smith, who has a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season under his belt in 2024 where he placed 15th in points driving his family-owned No. 17ss, will return on the Lucas Oil tour next year at the reins of JCM’s Birmingham, Ala.-based No. 19m.

“It just seems like a really good fit. He’s an extremely well put together guy,” Miller said. “His family is really nice. It just seemed like all the pieces were falling together. We were able to secure some more crew guys who really wanted to work with Brenden, too. He was using the same equipment we were: Rocket Chassis and Fox Shocks. All of it fell in line.”

JCM has also brought on Brian Green as crew chief, a position he previously held with the team for Wil Herrington in 2023 and for Clay Harris in 2024, along with general mechanic Jackson Dietz, who spent this past season working for the Lucas Oil Series.

This year, Smith ran a mostly independent schedule anchored by the DIRTcar Summer Nationals circuit. He finished eighth in series points, logging three top-10 finishes in starting 18 of 28 features.

Miller weighed many options for the JCM ride, including Milton, Fla.’s Joseph Joiner, who finished the Lucas Oil Series season for the team after Spencer Hughes' departure ahead of the Aug. 15-16’s Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway.

The two sides explored a potential deal for 2026, but Joiner announced last month he’ll remain with his Hunt the Front No. 10 operation. That put Smith atop Miller's pecking order and the car owner is “excited to see what he can do” because “he’s kind of been trying to prove himself the past few years running on Lucas Oil and the bigger stage."

“I’m incredibly thankful to Colten and everyone at JCM for this awesome opportunity,” Smith said. “I’m pumped to see what we can accomplish together at The Dome this weekend and with Lucas in 2026.”