{"id":44819,"date":"2024-03-09T19:15:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T01:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=44819"},"modified":"2024-03-12T08:19:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T13:19:56","slug":"opportunistic-chandler-smith-grabs-nascar-xfinity-victory-at-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/09\/opportunistic-chandler-smith-grabs-nascar-xfinity-victory-at-phoenix\/","title":{"rendered":"Opportunistic Chandler Smith grabs NASCAR Xfinity victory at Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 QuickTie Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

AVONDALE, Ariz.\u2014Chandler Smith had a message for his Joe Gibbs Racing team after taking the checkered flag in overtime in Saturday\u2019s Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway.<\/p>\n

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Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 QuickTie Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll take \u2018em when we can get \u2018em,\u201d Smith radioed before celebrating his second career victory with a burnout near the start\/finish line.<\/p>\n

It was good fortune\u2014combined with Justin Allgaier\u2019s disastrous bad luck\u2014that put Smith in Victory Lane after 205 laps at the one-mile track in the Sonoran Desert.<\/p>\n

Allgaier held a lead of nearly three seconds after crossing the stripe on Lap 195 of a scheduled 200. But as the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet approached Turn 1, his left rear tire went flat.<\/p>\n

Allgaier\u2019s car turned sideways and smashed into the outside wall, ending the race for the veteran driver from Illinois.<\/p>\n

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Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 QuickTie Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

On the subsequent overtime restart, Smith pulled away from teammate Sheldon Creed and reached the finish line 0.365 seconds ahead of Sunoco rookie Jesse Love, who edged Creed for the runner-up spot by 0.019 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing through the dogleg (on the frontstretch), I felt (the tire) come apart, like I ran something over, and at that point you\u2019re just a passenger,\u201d Allgaier said. \u201cI just hate it that we tore up a race car. We didn\u2019t go to Victory Lane. I hate it for all the guys and gals at JR Motorsports.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allgaier\u2019s ill fortune was determinative, but it wasn\u2019t that Smith didn\u2019t deserve the victory. He won the first 45-lap stage wire-to-wire and led a race-high 88 laps to Allgaier\u2019s 52.<\/p>\n

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Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 QuickTie Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe just lacked a little bit on the 7 (Allgaier),\u201d Smith said. \u201cI hate that happened to him\u2014he had that in the bag. I\u2019m so proud of everybody back at Joe Gibbs Racing. It\u2019s good finally to get this first win off our back for these guys.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo let\u2019s go keep racking \u2018em up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stage 2 winner Cole Custer led 61 laps, but his car suffered from a loose handling condition during the final run.<\/p>\n

With Custer fading badly, Smith was in the lead, more than 2.5 seconds ahead of Allgaier, when Hailie Deegan brushed the Turn 2 wall on Lap 137. To that point, Smith and Custer had combined to lead all the laps.<\/p>\n

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Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 QuickTie Toyota, Cole Custer, driver of the #00 Haas Automation Ford, and Corey Heim, driver of the #26 GearWrench Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The relatively innocent-looking fourth caution, however, set the stage for the chaos that followed. Smith lost three spots on pit road as John Hunter Nemechek took the lead.<\/p>\n

On the subsequent restart on Lap 144, Smith and Nemechek were racing in close quarters when contact from the right-front of Smith\u2019s Toyota turned Nemechek\u2019s Supra in front of the field.<\/p>\n

All told, 11 cars sustained damage, with Nemechek, hard-luck Sam Mayer (third DNF in four races), Hailie Deegan, Parker Retzlaff and Jeb Burton unable to continue.<\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s No. 81 Toyota was none the worse for wear and restarted next to Allgaier, the race leader, on Lap 152. On the longest green-flag run of the day, Allgaier pulled away and was cruising toward a comfortable victory when disaster struck, opening the door for Smith to secure his first victory since last April\u2019s win at Richmond for owner Matt Kaulig.<\/p>\n

Austin Hill came home fourth, with Custer, the defending series champion, claiming the fifth spot. Sunoco rookie Shane van Gisbergen, Brandon Jones, Parker Kligerman, Sammy Smith and Anthony Alfredo completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NXS Race Winner Chandler Smith (No. 81 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phoenix Raceway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Avondale, Arizona<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, March 9, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

                1. (2)  Chandler Smith, Toyota, 205.<\/p>\n

                2. (7)  Jesse Love #, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                3. (6)  Sheldon Creed, Toyota, 205.<\/p>\n

                4. (15)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                5. (1)  Cole Custer, Ford, 205.<\/p>\n

                6. (23)  Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                7. (11)  Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                8. (12)  Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                9. (16)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                10. (20)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                11. (24)  Leland Honeyman #, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                12. (13)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 205.<\/p>\n

                13. (31)  Blaine Perkins, Ford, 205.<\/p>\n

                14. (29)  BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                15. (25)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                16. (14)  Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                17. (34)  Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

                18. (10)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 204.<\/p>\n

                19. (32)  JJ Yeley, Chevrolet, 204.<\/p>\n

                20. (22)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 204.<\/p>\n

                21. (30)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 204.<\/p>\n

                22. (3)  Corey Heim(i), Toyota, 203.<\/p>\n

                23. (28)  William Byron(i), Chevrolet, 202.<\/p>\n

                24. (4)  Riley Herbst, Ford, 202.<\/p>\n

                25. (26)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 201.<\/p>\n

                26. (38)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                27. (27)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                28. (33)  Dawson Cram #, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                29. (5)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 195.<\/p>\n

                30. (35)  Frankie Muniz, Ford, Vibration, 156.<\/p>\n

                31. (8)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, Accident, 154.<\/p>\n

                32. (9)  John Hunter Nemechek(i), Toyota, Accident, 146.<\/p>\n

                33. (19)  Hailie Deegan #, Ford, Accident, 146.<\/p>\n

                34. (21)  Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, Accident, 143.<\/p>\n

                35. (18)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, Accident, 143.<\/p>\n

                36. (17)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, Accident, 143.<\/p>\n

                37. (37)  Ryan Vargas, Chevrolet, Suspension, 17.<\/p>\n

                38. (36)  Patrick Emerling, Chevrolet, Accident, 5.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  92.516 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 12 Mins, 57 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.365 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  6 for 43 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  7 among 4 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   C. Smith 1-48;C. Custer 49-108;C. Smith 109-138;C. Custer 139;J. Nemechek(i) 140-143;J. Allgaier 144-195;C. Smith 196-205.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Chandler Smith 3 times for 88 laps; Cole Custer 2 times for 61 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 52 laps; John Hunter Nemechek(i) 1 time for 4 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 81,00,7,19,98,9,1,26,20,2<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 00,7,19,81,98,20,1,2,9,21<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service AVONDALE, Ariz.\u2014Chandler Smith had a message for his Joe Gibbs Racing team after taking the checkered flag in overtime in Saturday\u2019s Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway. \u201cWe\u2019ll take \u2018em when we can get \u2018em,\u201d Smith radioed before celebrating his second […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":44815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[858,16,395],"class_list":["post-44819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-chandler-smith","tag-nascar","tag-phoenix-raceway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2071972258-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1706","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-bET","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44819"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44825,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44819\/revisions\/44825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}