No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra News and Notes:
- SMITH AT PHOENIX: Phoenix has proved to be a strong track for young driver, Chandler Smith, throughout his career. Last year he made his first two NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) starts at the track and earned two top-10 finishes. His NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) results further show his strength at the one-mile tri-oval. In four NCTS starts, Smith had three third-place finishes and one win that came in the 2021 season finale. Smith also won his only ARCA Menards Series (AMS) start at the track back in 2020.
- PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Smith swept the stages at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend for his first two stage wins of the season. The No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra started the race in second and led every lap of the first stage. Smith passed his Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammate and race eventual winner, John Hunter Nemechek, on the last lap of Stage 2 for the win. Smith finished the race in third place, his third-consecutive top-five finish to start the year.
- QUICKTIE: Quick Tie Products, Inc., (“QuickTie”) manufactures and distributes the QuickTie™ System, a proprietary, patented hold down system for high wind and seismic construction. The QuickTie™ System comprises wire rope cables with threaded rod studs swaged to each end, each with a steel bearing plate on the top end. Their cables are designed to cinch walls to their foundations from the uppermost top plates, thereby effectively resisting roof uplift and building overturning pressures. QuickTie also manufactures hangers, hold downs, plywood clips and all structural building components.
- ON THE PITBOX: Crew Chief Jeff Meendering will crew chief the No. 81 team in 2024. He has visited Victory Lane eight times as a NXS crew chief, most recently with Sammy Smith at Phoenix in March 2023. His teams have collected 62 top-five finishes, 128 top-10 finishes, and 12 pole positions under his leadership.
- JGR AT PHOENIX: JGR owns 16 Xfinity Series wins at Phoenix Raceway. In 116 combined starts at the track, the organization has racked up 50 top-five finishes, 81 top-10s, 21 pole awards, and 3,442 laps led. Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones, Joey Logano, and Sammy Smith have all driven JGR entries to victory lane in Phoenix.
- FOLLOW ALONG: Follow along for updates and a behind-the-scenes look at Smith’s 2024 NXS Season.
Twitter: @CSmith_Racing I Facebook: Chandler Smith I Instagram: @csmith_racing
- RACE INFO: The NXS Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 is scheduled for 4:30 PM EST on Saturday, March 9. Coverage of the race will be on Fox Sports 1, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio and available to stream on the FOX Sports app.
From the Driver’s Seat:
Chandler Smith: “Phoenix has been a strong track for me personally and for Joe Gibbs Racing as whole. We have had a great start to 2024 and Phoenix is a perfect track to continue that streak this weekend. I have a lot of confidence that we will have another fast No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra on Saturday.”
Smith’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats at Phoenix Raceway:
Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Avg. Start | Avg. Finish |
2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6.0 | 6.5 |
Smith’s 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:
Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Avg. Start | Avg. Finish |
3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 75 | 11.0 | 3.3 |
Smith’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:
Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Laps Led | Avg. Start | Avg. Finish |
39 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 393 | 10.2 | 15.2 |
JGR PR