Smith, who earned his first collection victory at Richmond nearly one 12 months in the past, didn’t seem to have pretty much as good a automotive as his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Aric Almirola by way of the primary two levels.
Early within the last stage, nevertheless, Smith and Almirola each elected to pit for brand new tires below a warning on lap 174 of 250 for a wreck involving Joey Gase and Dawson Cram.
Smith beat Almirola off pit street and by no means appeared again because the race stayed inexperienced the remainder of the way in which. Smith constructed his lead over the ultimate 60 laps earlier than cruising to the 4.495-second win over Almirola on the checkered flag.
The win is the third of Smith’s profession and second this season, which is his first driving the No. 81 Chevrolet for JGR. With the win, Smith additionally took a 10-point lead over Austin Hill within the collection standings.
Watch: Chandler Smith ‘by no means gave up’ in Richmond victory
“By no means hand over. This automotive was junk in Stage 1, wasn’t good in Stage 2 however used some good technique there and this factor was quick when it counted,” Smith mentioned. “I feel we took over the factors lead right this moment, too. I’m simply blessed.”
Taylor Grey rallied within the last laps to seize third and full a 1-2-3 end for JGR, Corey Heim ended up fourth and Jesse Love fifth.
Finishing the top-10 have been Bubba Pollard – who was making his first collection begin, Parker Kligerman, Hill, Sammy Smith and Cole Custer.
Stage 1
Almirola handed Justin Allgaier with 11 of 75 laps remaining and held off Brennan Poole by 0.821 seconds to take the Stage 1 win. Heim was third, Allgaier fourth and Sam Mayer rounded out the highest 5.
Brandon Jones misplaced the engine in his No. 9 Chevrolet in Turns 1 and a pair of on lap 43, spun and received collected in a wreck with Ryan Sieg, which knocked them each out of the race.
Stage 2
Almirola held off a fast-charging Mayer to finish a sweep with a victory in Stage 2. Chandler Smith was third, Grey fourth and Heim rounded out the highest 5.
Stage 3
Through the break between Levels 2 and three, all of the lead lap automobiles pit with Almirola first off pit street. When the race resumed on lap 160, Almirola led Mayer and Grey.
With 87 laps to go, Chandler Smith went to the within of Almirola and got here away with the lead for the primary time within the race. Mayer was pressured to pit below inexperienced with a flat tire.
On lap 173, Cram received inside Gase getting into Flip 1, spun him and he then slammed into the wall arduous.
After Gase received out of his automotive, he walked to the again and ripped the bumper off the rear of his No. 35 Chevrolet. Gase then waited for Cram to drive by and tossed the bumper cowl onto Cram’s automotive.
A number of lead lap automobiles pit however 15 stayed out below the warning with Allgaier inheriting the lead on the restart with 67 laps to go.
On Lap 191, Chandler Smith – who stopped for brand new tires – had already pushed by way of the sector and reclaimed the lead.
With 25 laps remaining within the race, Chandler Smith had constructed a 1.6-second lead over Almirola with Heim in third. Allgaier, in ninth, was the very best operating automotive nonetheless with a set of latest tires left to make use of.
Smith prolonged his result in 3.6 seconds over Almirola with 5 laps to go as Heim remained in third, 6.7 seconds behind the chief.
