Chandler Smith runs a clean race in Delaware at Dover Motor Speedway and narrowly misses out on a top-10 finish

This weekend, Step One Motorsports ambassador Chandler Smith travelled to Dover, Delaware from Talladega Superspeedway to compete at Dover Motor Speedway. NASCAR Xfinity has held races at this oval since 1982, with races occurring on an annual basis since then. This is a track the series always visits in the spring (except for a postponement to August in 2020 due to Covid). Drivers are challenged to take on 200 laps of the three-stage race known as the A-GAME 200. The concrete track is exactly 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) in length meaning that the race distance totals 200 miles (321.869 km) as drivers zip around the speedway, reaching average speeds of more than 100 mph (161 kph). 

Smith qualified in P11 as a result of a series set by a NASCAR Xfinity metric when qualifying conditions don’t allow for any running. His race got off to a clean start, despite the No. 16 Chevy feeling tight, according to the Kaulig Driver; but Smith pushed onward and avoided incidents. Stage one’s completion saw the Xfinity rookie in P10, during which he once more steered clear of trouble and carved his way into the top five. P6 was his position as the middle stage drew to a close, with Smith expressing just how pleased he was with the car. After losing a few positions in the third and final stage, Smith attempted an upward climb within the field, running a very long final stint before heading into the pits one more time. Upon crossing the line at the end of 200 laps, Smith crossed the line in P13, just shy of the top 10.

Smith and NASCAR Xfinity do not race next weekend; the series’ next appearance is at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina (12-13 May 2023).