Chandler Smith Claims First Xfinity Win at Richmond

Photo by Peter Stratta/TSJSports

NASCAR

Chandler Smith Comes Through for First Xfinity Series Victory at Richmond

Richmond, Va. – After being on the cusp of his first win many times in 2023, Chandler Smith finally put it all together in Richmond. After winning Stage 1, Smith had to fight back on a late sprint to the checkers. The 16 makes it back-to-back wins for Kaulig Racing, with another Playoff spot taken.

Stage 1 would be defined by a head-scratching strategy call by some leaders. Under the lap 35 competition caution, both John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith opted to stay out on much older tires. This gamble was a big time short-term loss, with both the 18 and the 20 ending Stage 1 a lap down. Chandler Smith’s 16 got by both Toyotas in the closing laps, as this early move was a long-game play by two of the fastest cars.

A caution-free Stage 2 showed who had the best long run car, with Josh Berry emerging as a contender. The 8 took over on lap 141 and held on for the valuable Playoff point. As Stage 3 began, the 8 was favored if the race ran green to the end.

Berry would retake command from teammate Brandon Jones with 65 to go and drove off. The race only fell out of Berry’s favor when a caution flew for a car stopped on pit road with 30 to go.

Despite holding serve as the leader down pit road, Berry would lose the lead to a hard-charging John Hunter Nemechek. A series of late cautions kept the field bunched together, allowing Chandler Smith to get by the 20 on a restart with six laps left. In only his tenth career start, Chandler Smith is an Xfinity Series winner.

“This is a testimony to Vegas,” Smith said referencing a close loss he had a few weeks ago. “Didn’t win then, I said it was all in God’s timing, He was creating something way bigger and better than I know what to do with. Here we are in Richmond, my favorite racetrack, and sitting in victory lane. All glory goes to God, thank you Chris Rice and Matt Kaulig, everyone at Kaulig Racing, this is unbelievable.”

Behind Smith, the top-10 were: John Hunter Nemechek, Josh Berry, Kaz Grala, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, Ryan Sieg, Parker Kligerman, Austin Hill, and Derek Kraus. Hear from some of these drivers below.

By virtue of finishing 13th, Justin Allgaier also pockets the first Dash4Cash $100,000 bonus. Allgaier, Smith, Nemechek, and Berry will battle for the next check in two weeks at Martinsville.

Chandler Smith will also make his NASCAR Cup Series debut tomorrow at Richmond. Driving the No. 13 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Smith will start 37th.

After an off week, the next stop for the Xfinity Series will be Martinsville Speedway. The Call 811 Before You Dig 250 will go green Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. As a Dash4Cash race, expect everyone to put it all on the line for the Grandfather Clock and the big payday.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports