NASCAR
Chandler Smith Leads Toyota Top Four Sweep in Toyota Care 250
RICHMOND, Va. – To the defending winner go the spoils once again in the Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway. Joe Gibbs Racing was the class of the field again on the 3/4-mile bullring, picking up their 12th victory in the Commonwealth. Chandler Smith goes back-to-back, beating teammate Aric Almirola by over four seconds at the checkers.
After three different leaders, Aric Almirola took command on lap 65 and stormed to the Stage 1 win. Moonlighting in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota, the past Cup Series driver flexed his Richmond muscles with a dominant Stage sweeping performance.
Short track tempers would fly early in Stage 3, with Dawson Cram and Joey Gase getting together. Gase showed his displeasure by throwing his rear bumper at the No. 4 as he drove by afterwards.
Up front meanwhile, the final stage was the Chandler Smith invitational. The defending Toyota Care 250 winner who calls Richmond his favorite track simply drove off from the field. Despite a few contenders opting to pit late for fresh tires, none could overcome Smith’s lightning-quick No. 81 Toyota.
Smith would lead a Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2-3 and a Toyota top four sweep. Richmond marks the first time since Dover in 2012 where Toyota has achieved this feat.
“All glory to God first and foremost on Easter weekend,” Smith said. “Tomorrow is probably the most important single day in all of world history, so make sure to be with your family and kids if you have them. Speaking of kids, I cannot wait to see mine. They’re here today, my wife and sons, and I’m ready to celebrate with them. Never give up, never give up. This car was not good in Stage 1 or Stage 2, but we were able to work some strategy. This thing was as fast as Xfinity internet at the end when it counted.”
“All glory again to God. If it wasn’t for Him I wouldn’t be surrounded by all these great men and women at Joe Gibbs Racing. I wouldn’t be with the greatest manufacturer in Toyota, back home with them, back winning races on a consistent basis. I think we took over the points lead today too. I’m just blessed, cannot wait to get to victory lane to celebrate with my guys and my family. It’ll be a good day to get up tomorrow and go to church.”
Behind Smith, Almirola, Taylor Gray, and Corey Heim, Jesse Love was the lone non-Toyota in the top-five. Super late model ace Bubba Pollard ended his Xfinity debut in sixth, after starting in the rear. The rest of the top-10 finishers were: Parker Kligerman, Austin Hill, Sammy Smith, and Cole Custer. Hear from some of these drivers below.
Smith, Almirola, Love, and Kligerman are the first four Dash4Cash contenders of 2024. They will all be racing for $100,000 next week.
The maiden Dash4Cash race of 2024 will see Xfinity cars take on Martinsville Speedway. The Dude Wipes 250 will go green Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Following a Toyota reign of terror in Richmond, can anyone take down the behemoth on another short track?
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Johnathan Bachman/Getty Images
