No one can compare to Chandler Smith on the short tracks in the Xfinity Series, at least when it comes to wins. The driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 81 Toyota Supra won at Phoenix and Richmond to sweep the short tracks so far this season.
He’s not surprised to be good at the short tracks, given where he’s come from. Indeed, he won the spring race at Richmond last season.
“With my experience at short track racing, that is where I come from. That is what I grew up racing,” he explained.
Last year, though, he was driving for Kaulig Racing in the No. 16 Chevy. It’s a return to Smith’s roots, considering he came up through the Truck Series in a Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota, and it’s certainly been fruitful since he already has more wins than he scored all of last season.
For Smith, the adjustment hasn’t been particularly difficult. He put in the work in the offseason to get better and that’s what’s produced the results.
“Honestly, there wasn’t that big of, I guess you could say, change. We got to work right after Phoenix, last year,” he explained. “In the simulator pretty much every single week – all the way up to Christmas. We took a two-week break off, and then was right back at it again.
“We were ready. We were prepared for the season, and I think that is why the results have been there. We were so prepared for this season right off the rip.”
Despite this, Smith has never won a NASCAR race at Martinsville in any series, and his Xfinity Series results at the track last season were uninspiring. Smith explained that the track is its own challenge and it’s hard to get right.
“It’s similar to Richmond in that track position is big here,” he explained. “I feel like it is bigger here than Richmond, honestly, just because – if you have a bad pit stop, you could be running second, have a bad pit stop, and be running eighth-to-tenth. Then you get hit the wrong way, get back in the hornets’ nest, that can ruin your day right there.
“Just haven’t really had the balance I’ve been looking for. Haven’t had the execution all day on my part – whatever it may have been. Looking to clean that up this year, and hopefully have a decent run,” Smith concluded.
He might not have the results he’s wanted, but if any driver in the Xfinity Series has the momentum on their side on the short tracks, it’s definitely Chandler Smith.
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