Trucks Series: Chandler Smith completes comeback in Bristol

Gabriel Tsui
4 days ago
4 min read

Written by Gabriel Tsui

After a one week break from Trucks Racing, Chandler Smith completed a strong comeback in Bristol to secure his first win of the season, as the 22-year-old extended his streak of top-ten finishes.

Coming into the weekend, Daniel Hemric in the No.19 carried a lot of momentum as he secured a strong win in Martinsville. He found himself in pole position with qualifying cancelled and led the field to the green flag. Hemric got a great jump off the start, while Tyler Ankrum, who started alongside Hemric on the front row, was overtaken by Chandler Smith and Ben Rhodes.

Smith, who was the only driver to score top-ten finishes in every race so far, soon caught up to Hemric and made quick work on the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevy, taking the lead on lap 9. The first caution soon came out on the back of a Connor Mosack spin, after the 26-year-old made contact with Tanner Gray in the No.15.

Smith continued leading following the restart, as Hemric fell back seven spots to ninth place, while Hendrick Motorsports junior Corey Day made up huge ground, moving into the top-ten. A bit past lap 50, a four car pile-up saw Ty Majeski get his first DNF in 20 races, while the No.33 of Frankie Muniz, No.52 of Stewart Friesen and No.1 of Brandon Jones were able to limp back to pit road.

On the final restart of stage one, Smith got a great jump on the outside and completed a dominant stage with ten points and his first stage win of the season.

Stage One Results:

Chandler Smith, No.38
Ben Rhodes, No.99
Tyler Ankrum, No.18
Layne Riggs, No.34
Daniel Hemric, No.19
Kyle Larson, No.07
Matt Crafton, No.88
Corey Day, No.7
Jake Garcia, No.13
Rajah Caruth, No.71

Smith continues his lead into stage two, as an early caution is brought out by a spinning Rajah Caruth. Most of the leaders continue to stay out of pit road, as Bayley Currey, one of the early pitters, cuts through the field and is chasing down race leader Smith on tyres 50 laps younger.

As stage two is coming to an end, some of the drivers who haven't made their pit stops are beginning to struggle, losing major tyre grip and a lot of ground to those who have. Currey overtook Smith with very little resistance and went on to win stage two, his first career stage win.

Stage Two results:

Bayley Currey, No.44
Chandler Smith, No.38
Kaden Honeycutt, No.45
Corey Heim, No. 11
Tanner Gray, No.15
Tyler Ankrum, No.18
Matt Crafton, No.88
Jake Garcia, No.13
Ben Rhodes, No.99
Corey Day, No.7

During the stage break, most drivers came in for one final stop that could take them to the end of the race. Caruth started on the front row after deciding against pitting, headed to green alongside Currey and took advantage of his warm rubber and the high line, as Caruth entered the lead.

However, heading towards lap 160, Toni Bredinger was spun around by a heavily damaged Friesen, bringing out the sixth caution of the race. This gave Corey Heim an opportunity to move up on the restart, as the 22-year-old moved past Currey into second place.

Despite having a tyre disadvantage, Caruth continues defending his lead while Heim is trying his best to find an opening on the No.71 with 50 laps to go. In the meantime, Smith caught up with the leaders and easily overtook Currey as Heim went round the outside for Caruth. Smith trailed closely and also moved past Caruth quickly, and now has his sights set on Heim.

However, lapped traffic and the seventh caution of the race, brought out by the rain, gave him a moment to breathe and slowed down the charging Smith for the moment. On the restart, Smith got a great jump on the start but a slow Currey behind them brings out yet another caution, as the No.44 is out of the race on a transmission problem.

On the restart, Smith gets a huge jump on the outside while Kyle Larson shoots up to second place. Larson came close but ran out of laps and opportunities, as Smith made a huge comeback to find his first win of the season. He brings home nearly maximum points and a stage win, while moving up to 2nd place in the championship standings.

Final Results: