Strong Run for Chandler Smith Ends with 13th-Place Finish

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In: NASCAR Truck Series News
Chandler Smith had one of his strongest outings of the season, leading a race-high 46 laps and winning Stage Two before getting shuffled back on a restart late in the race and finishing 13th.
 
With his strong run, Smith widened his lead on the 10th and final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs spot to 15 points over Johnny Sauter with three races remaining in the regular season. 
 
 
Stage One Recap
 
  • Smith lined up fifth for the 150-lap event after posting a time of 30.189 seconds at 158.601 mph in Friday afternoon’s qualifying session.
  • The Georgia native was able to gain two positions on the first lap and settled into the third position. He would remain third to throughout the opening stanza, which was caution free.
 
Stage Two Recap:
 
  • Between stages, Smith communicated that his Safelite Tundra was “tight in traffic.” Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman ordered up a four-tire and fuel stop with a wedge adjustment to address the handling issues.
  • Quick work by the over-the-wall crew allowed Smith to exit pit road with the lead. He elected to start Stage Two from the inside lane when it went green on lap 55.
  • The talented teenager remained out front when the second caution of the race occurred on lap 78. He reported that he needed “better turnability on throttle,” during the caution laps.
  • Once again, he elected the bottom lane for the ensuing restart and remained out front for the final 12 laps of the stage to pick up his first stage win of the season.
 
Final Stage Recap:
 
  • Smith communicated that his Toyota was “plowing tight” exiting both sets of corners. Stockman ordered up another four-tire and fuel stop with a trackbar adjustment. Smith would be the first truck getting four fresh tires to exit pit road but would be scored ninth behind trucks that had pitted during the caution prior to the end of Stage Two.
  • The Toyota Racing Development driver chose the top of row five for the lap 103 restart. He advanced one position when a one-truck spin brought out the fifth caution of the event.
  • The Safelite Tundra lined up on the top of the fourth row for the ensuing restart. He advanced to fourth in one lap but had fallen back to sixth when the next caution occurred on lap 111.
  • Smith reported that the front tires on his No. 18 Toyota were chattering in the corners. He lined up on the bottom of the third row for the lap 117 restart. As trucks went four-wide for nearly a lap, Smith fell back to the 12th position. He would lose one more spot before the field crossed the stripe on lap 150 and finish the day with a 13th-place result.
 
 
 
Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra for KBM:
 
How did your race go?
“Overall, today our Safelite AutoGlass Toyota Tundra was pretty solid. First stage we ended up P3, Second Stage we go the stage win, for the Final Stage we were searching for track position and had just cracked the top five when I picked the wrong lane for a restart, it cost us, and we ended up finishing P13. We’ll move on. It was a good points day, and we’ll keep on chipping away.”
 
Rackley Roofing 200 Recap
 
  • Ryan Preece scored his first career Camping World Truck Series victory beating Todd Gilliland to the stripe by 0.950 seconds. Grant Enfiger, Zane Smith, and Stewart Friesen rounded out the top-five finishers.
  • There were five cautions for 29 laps. There were eight lead changes among six drivers.
 
How Chandler Smith’s KBM Teammates Fared:
 
·        John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished 10th.
·        Drew Dollar, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 24th.
 
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
 
Smith and the No. 18 team maintained the 11th position in the Camping World Truck Series championship standings. With Grant Enfinger in the sixth spot not being playoff eligible, Smith now sits 15 points ahead of Johnny Sauter for the 10th and final playoff spot.
 
 
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