No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra News and Notes
- SMITH AT LAS VEGAS: Chandler Smith has been a standout performer at Las Vegas Motor Speedway so far in his young career. In three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track, Smith has three top-five finishes and never started worse than fourth, including a pole in March 2023. Earlier this season at Las Vegas, Smith started second, led 74 laps and won both stages before ultimately finishing third. Prior to moving to the Xfinity Series, Smith won the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Las Vegas in March 2022.
- ROUND OF 12 RECAP: The No. 81 team clinched their spot in the Round of 8 after the second race of the first round. Smith opened the playoffs by leading 114 laps and finishing third at Kansas Speedway. The next week, Smith finished fifth at Talladega Superspeedway to solidify his spot in the next round. The Georgia native earned another top-five finish in last Saturday’s race at the Charlotte ROVAL.
- TOP-FIVE STREAK: Smith has posted six consecutive top-five finishes dating back to the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 7. While he has not visited victory lane over that stretch, he has proven to be successful on a variety of tracks since Atlanta.
- ON THE PITBOX: Crew chief Jeff Meendering has visited Victory Lane 10 times as a NXS crew chief, most recently with Smith at Richmond Raceway in March 2024. His teams have collected 73 top-five finishes, 144 top-10s, and 15 pole positions under his leadership.
- 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.
- JGR AT LAS VEGAS: Joe Gibbs Racing has earned four Xfinity Series wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including John Hunter Nemechek’s victory earlier this year. In 86 combined starts at the track, the organization has tallied 27 top-five finishes, 48 top-10s, four pole awards, and 1,291 laps led.
- TUNE IN: Coverage of this weekend’s Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, October 19, at 7 p.m. ET on The CW, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
From the Driver’s Seat:
Chandler Smith: “Las Vegas is one of my favorite tracks. I feel like it really suits my driving style and I have had great races there the past few years. I feel like we missed out on the win earlier this year when we were capable of winning. This trip is a little different since we are trying to make the Championship 4, and need a great points day, but I like our chances this weekend.”
JGR PR