Chandler Smith earns first NASCAR Xfinity Series win
Josh Berry (8) stops for a pit stop during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Richmond, Va. Credit: AP/Mike Caudill
RICHMOND, Va. — Chandler Smith outran John Hunter Nemechek out of a restart with six laps to go Saturday at Richmond Raceway to win his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Nemechek chose the inside lane on a restart with 12 laps left, relegating Smith to the outside. When another caution came for a crash at the back of the field, Smith had taken the lead and chose the outside for the sprint to the finish.
Smith won in just his 10th career start in the series. Nemechek was second, followed by Josh Berry, Kaz Grala and Cole Custer.
Justin Allgaier, one of four drivers contending for the Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus, gambled by stopping under green for his last set of tires with about 40 laps to and was cruising through the field.
But when another caution came with 28 to go, the rest of the leaders pitted, leaving him on older tires and basically defenseless. Three contenders — Sammy Smith, Daniel Hemric and Sam Mayer — had more difficult days and Allgaier won despite finishing 13th.
“It was like none of us wanted to win it,” Allgaier said.
The race, delayed nearly an hour at the start after periodic morning rain, was run without practice or qualifying, started nearly an hour late under cloudy skies and finished in sunshine.
Riley Herbst (98) runs in third place while a group of cars follow close behind during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Richmond, Va. Credit: AP/Mike Caudill
ROUGH FINISH
The finish was harsh for Riley Herbst and Brandon Jones, who were both running in the top five and had been up front all day until they crashed with 20 laps to go. Jones wound up 21st, Herbst 23rd.
MIXED RESULTS
When the competition caution flag flew after 35 laps, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Nemechek and Sammy Smith opted to stay on the track while everyone else got fresh tires. It backfired for Smith.
John Hunter Nemechek (20) drives during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Richmond, Va. Credit: AP/Mike Caudill
Smith led one lap under caution, but was running seventh by the time the first green-flag lap was complete. Nemechek dropped back faster and was 32nd when the stage ended with Smith 33rd, a lap down.
While Nemechek was seventh at the end of the 75-lap second stage and nearly won, Smith never found his way near the front and finished 19th.
