What’s Happening

After tremendous battles and amidst weather uncertainty, Chandler Smith prevailed against Cup Series champion Kyle Larson to win his first race of the season. Chandler entered the race 3rd in points, 36 behind leader Corey Heim. Despite being the only driver to achieve a top 10 in all five races this season, Smith was not much in the spotlight, but that certainly changed tonight at Bristol Motor Speedway, one of his best tracks.

Smith dominated early on but lost the lead due to different strategy calls during the second stage. On the final stage, however, Smith executed everything perfectly, overtaking Corey Heim for the lead on a restart, and holding off a charging Kyle Larson, who was on fresher tires, to claim his 6th career Truck Series win, being his 2nd at Bristol.

The race was not straightforward for Chandler. He dominated early on but was shuffled back to the back half of the top 10 after stage 2 as the field was on split strategies. he worked his way forward and had an opportunity to pass Corey Heim for the lead, but just as he was in attack mode, a caution came out for rain. It didn’t last long, though, and as they restarted, Smith quickly got past Heim with a fantastic launch, taking the top spot before the following caution flew out. On the restart, Smith pulled away as Kyle Larson passed Heim for second, and despite being on fresher tires, he did not have enough to catch the 38.

Larson kicked off his weekend with 0 for 1, which means he has no chance of repeating Kyle Busch’s historical achievement, done twice. At least, it will have to wait for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.

Race Info

• Practice and Qualifying were canceled due to weather.
• Starting Lineup was set via Performance Metric Formula
• PJ1 (Traction Compound) was applied on the bottom lane
• Competition caution was scheduled on lap 30.

• Drivers to the Rear: None
• Pole Sitter: Daniel Hemric #19 [Via Formula]
• Outside Pole: Tyler Ankrum #18 [Via Formula]
• Defending Race Winner: Christian Eckes
• DNQ: None
• Laps: 250 laps | 133.25 Miles
• Stage 1: 65 laps
• Stage 2: 65 laps | through lap 130
• Final Stage: 120 laps | through lap 250
• Fuel Window: 140 laps
• Pit Road Speed: 30MPH
• Sets of Tires Available: 4
• Broadcast: FS1 – Jamie Little, Joey Logano, Michael Waltrip

Green Flag was at 7:50 pm EST

Stage 1 Results:

1. Chandler Smith #38
2. Ben Rhodes #99
3. Tyler Ankrum #18
4. Layne Riggs #34
5. Daniel Hemric #19
6. Kyle Larson #07
7. Matt Crafton #88
8. Corey Day #7
9. Jake Garcia #13
10. Rajah Caruth #71

Stage 2 Results:

1. Bayley Currey #44
2. Chandler Smith #38
3. Kaden Honeycutt #45
4. Corey Heim #11
5. Tanner Gray #15
6. Tyler Ankrum #18
7. Matt Crafton #88
8. Jake Garcia #13
9. Ben Rhodes #99
10. Corey Day #7

Race Results:

1st. Chandler Smith #38
2nd. Kyle Larson #07
3rd. Corey Heim #11
4th. Tyler Ankrum #18
5th. Ben Rhodes #(9
6th. Layne Riggs #34
7th. Jake Garcia #13
8th. Kaden Honeycutt #45
9th. Rajah Caruth #71
10th. Giovanni Ruggiero #17
11th. Jack Wood #91
12th. Grant Enfinger #9
13th. Daniel Hemric #19
14th. Parker Kligerman #75
15th. Corey Day #7
16th. Matt Crafton #88
17th. Dawson Sutton #26
18th. Tanner Gray #15
19th. Andres Perez De Lara #77
20th. Matt Mills #42
21st. Tyler Tomassi #22
22nd. Luke Fenhaus #66
23rd. Bayley Currey #44
24th. Connor Mosack #81
25th. Toni Breidinger #5
26th. Justin S Carroll #90
27th. Stewart Friesen #52
28th. Nathan Byrd #02
29th. Patrick Saropoli #84
30th. Spencer Boyd #76
31st. Frankie Muniz #33
32nd. Brandon Jones #1
33rd. Ty Majeski #98
34th. Norm Benning #6
35th. Stephen Mallozzi #2

Race Highlights

• Norm Benning was parked and sent to the garage by NASCAR in the first few laps.
• Chandler Smith had the clear dominant Truck early on, passing Hemric early to lead 113 consecutive laps, and winning the first stage.
• Bayley Currey passed Chandler Smith to win stage 2 in what was a great performance for the driver of the 44, but ended up in a disappointing 23rd after an incident.
• Despite spinning early, Rajah Caruth led 85 laps (2nd most) during the final stage.
• Larson received a speeding penalty before the start of the final stage but recovered to finish P2.
• It was not clear who was fastest on the final stage, but Chandler Smith had the better execution, and once he got up front, there was no challenger.
• NASCAR threw the caution for rain late on the final stage but restarted without major delays.
  

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