Sammy Smith Scores First Xfinity Win at Phoenix

Photo Credit to Meg Oliphant/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR

Rookie Sammy Smith Takes Maiden NASCAR win at Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. – In only his 12th career start, rookie Sammy Smith went to Xfinity Series victory lane. The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota was the class of the field for the second half, leading a race-high 92 laps. JGR cars are no stranger to this level of success in the desert. For the 18-year-old from Iowa, this is likely the first of many wins this season.

Justin Allgaier would take command late in Stage 1 from polesitter Cole Custer, outlasting a late restart for the Playoff point. After staying out under another late caution in Stage 2, the 7 swept both Stages for a max-points effort. A two-time Phoenix winner, Allgaier’s quest for a hat trick would have to come after restarting 30th for the final Stage.

While Allgaier was rallying from deep in the field, Sammy Smith sniffed the lead and ran away. After taking the top spot from Kyle Busch, the 18 quickly built up a several-seconds gap. A few brief cautions kept the field close to Smith’s bumper, but he remained undefeated on each successive restart.

A four-wide incident involving Allgaier would trigger another caution with 20 laps left. Despite recovering nicely to the top-five, the 7 would get sent wide by teammate Brandon Jones, and then put in the wall by Kaz Grala.

Lining up alongside Kyle Busch on this pivotal restart, Smith was flawless yet again. With an ill-handling car, Busch began to fall back, putting Smith’s teammate Ryan Truex in second. Making his first start of any kind since July, Truex began to track Smith down late. Despite Truex putting up a valiant effort in the closing laps, Smith would not be denied his first career win.

“It’s amazing, a real dream come true,” Smith said of the victory. “Just thanks to Pilot Flying J, TMC, Allstate Peterbuilt Group, Renda Group, Toyota, and all of the guys on the JGR team for giving me this awesome opportunity.”

Behind Smith and Truex, the top-10 were: Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, Chandler Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, Josh Berry, Kyle Busch, and Daniel Hemric.

Kaulig teammates Busch and Chandler Smith were involved in last-lap contact racing for third. Busch was defending and the rookie tried passing him on the outside, sending the veteran sideways. Both drivers did recover though for a top-10 result.

Sammy Smith follows in the footsteps of Ty Gibbs. Like Gibbs, Smith won the ARCA East Championship (2021-2022) and now has won early in his Xfinity Series tenure.

Four races into 2023 for the Xfinity Series, both Joe Gibbs Racing teams have won into Playoff contention. Expect both Smith and Nemechek to become regular sights in victory lane.

Next up for the Xfinity Series is Atlanta Motor Speedway. The drafting track in the Peach State offers a winning chance and Playoff berth for an underdog team. The Raptor 250 will go green Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Meg Oliphant/Getty Images for NASCAR