Chandler Smith retires prematurely from the Raptor 250 in Atlanta after a strong early showing

The stage for round five of NASCAR Xfinity’s 2023 campaign was Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The first Xfinity race held at this 1.54-mile/2.48-kilometer circuit was in 1992, and it has been a staple on the calendar ever since. Drivers navigate the oval 163 times over the course of the 251.02 miles (403.98 kilometers) the race covers. The event includes three stages, the first two having 40 laps each and the final stage 83 laps.

Step One Motorsports ambassador Chandler Smith started the race in P6 after qualifying was canceled due to weather. The grid was set based on a NASCAR Xfinity metric currently in place. Smith was running strong in the first stage of the race, collecting points, but further into the race picked up some damage that required repair in the pits. Smith continued in the race despite stopping and going for damage repair, but ultimately ended up having to bring the car into the garage prematurely due to a separate issue and was classified as P28. Despite the unfortunate end to his race, Smith continues to show strong pace in his Chevrolet car which holds promise for the rest of his 2023 campaign with Kaulig Racing.

Next week’s NASCAR Xfinity race, the Pit Boss 250, will find the drivers heading to Austin, TX, to compete at the Circuit of the Americas on March 24 and March 25, 2023.