Chandler Smith Hangs on for Second Career Win at Phoenix

“We’ll take ’em when we can get ’em.”

It’s a good, simple philosophy to have in NASCAR. That is what Chandler Smith told his crew after taking the checkered flag in the Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series.

If this were Vegas, Smith would have hit the jackpot while Justin Allgaier would go home empty-handed. Allgaier was on his way to a win when he blew a left-rear tire on lap 195 of 200, after having over a three-second lead. After the restart, Chandler Smith pulled away for the win, while Jesse Love beat Sheldon Creed to the line by inches for second place.

“Going through the dogleg (on the front stretch), I felt the tire come apart like I ran something over, and at that point, you’re just a passenger,” Allgaier said after the wreck. “I just hate it that we tore up a race car. We didn’t go to Victory Lane. I hate it for all the guys and gals at JR Motorsports.”

Chandler Smith had a solid race as he led for 88 laps and won the first stage. This marks Smith’s first win since 2023 at Richmond when he was with Kaulig Racing.

“We just lacked a little bit on the 7 (Justin Allgaier),” Smith said. “I hate that happened to him. He had that in the bag. I’m so proud of everybody back at Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s good finally to get this first win off our back for these guys.

“So let’s go keep racking ’em up.”

While Justin Allgaier led for 52 laps, stage 2 winner Cole Custer led for 61 laps but would fall back to fifth after suffering loose handling conditions on his No. 00 Ford. Austin Hill would also finish ahead of Custer in fourth. Rookie Shane van Gisbergen finished sixth, while Brandon Jones, Parker Kligerman, Sammy Smith, and Anthony Alfredo rounded out the top ten.

The Xfinity Series will be off next weekend and then they will head down to Austin, Texas at Circuit of the Americas on March 23rd at 5 pm EST.