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Chandler Smith showcased exceptional skill during the NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, finishing strong despite intense pressure from Kyle Larson in the final laps. After seizing the lead through impressive speed, Smith secured victory, along with a lucrative $50,000 bonus from the ‘Triple Truck Challenge’ incentive program.
“I’m more thrilled for my team than for myself,” Smith remarked, celebrating his sixth win in the NASCAR Truck Series. He reflected on the rapid assembly of his team, having hired his crew chief just weeks before the season opener in Daytona. “This group came together only in January. It’s truly remarkable how things come together,” he added.
The battle for the win
Rajah Caruth initially took command of the race with a calculated decision to remain on the track despite using tires that were 54 laps older than his competitors. He managed to maintain the lead until 28 laps remaining, when Corey Heim overcame him on the outside. Smith quickly followed and began challenging Heim for the top spot, though a caution due to light rain interrupted their duel.
After a brief intermission under the pace car, NASCAR deemed the track conditions acceptable for racing and the competition resumed with just 14 laps to go. However, a transmission failure from Bayley Currey disrupted the momentum, leading to a backlog of cars and setting up a frantic seven-lap sprint to the finish.
No sweep for Larson
Throughout the race, Smith expressed his concern over having Larson in close proximity, but he ultimately handled the situation with poise. Larson crossed the finish line in second place, missing the chance for a weekend sweep. The race was uncharacteristic for Larson, who struggled with his truck’s performance and endured a speeding penalty. He regained positions by opting for fresher tires while others remained on track, climbing as high as fifth before the caution for rain came out, enabling him to take second place on the final restart.
“I don’t know what I needed to win,” Larson commented after the race. “We fell back on that long run towards the end of the second stage, got tight, and then sped on pit road. That actually turned out to be somewhat beneficial. I believed if we hadn’t seen that caution with 25 laps to go while in traffic, I might have had a better shot. But to finish second is still a positive outcome.”
Heim finished third, with Tyler Ankrum and Ben Rhodes following in fourth and fifth, respectively. The remainder of the top ten featured Layne Riggs, Jake Garcia, Kaden Honeycutt, Rajah Caruth, and Gio Ruggiero.
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