On Saturday, Sammy Smith, an 18-year-old high school student, made history by becoming the fourth-youngest driver to win an Xfinity Series race. Smith triumphantly crossed the finish line at Phoenix Raceway, beating out seasoned racers Kyle Busch and Ryan Truex for his first Xfinity Series win.
Sammy, who has been with Joe Gibbs Racing for two years and has made 13 starts, spoke of his excitement after the race, stating that it was a dream come true. Despite facing a late-race restart, the determined teenager skillfully maneuvered his way to victory.
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“That was tough with all of those restarts–and going against some of the best,” said Smith. “I just have to thank everybody on Pilot/Flying J, Toyota, JGR guys, and everybody on this 18 team for giving me an awesome car. This is awesome.”
“The restarts were definitely the most challenging I’ve ever had to deal with,” he added. “A lot of good guys. It’s definitely awesome to beat those guys.”
Who else besides Sammy Smith did well in the race?
Ryan Truex took second place, with Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, and Chandler Smith rounding out the top five. Despite leading in the final laps, Busch’s hopes of victory were dashed after colliding with Chandler, sending him tumbling down the leaderboard.
With Smith’s triumph, JGR claimed its 16th victory in the second-tier series at Phoenix, making it six consecutive years with six different drivers. Previously, Christopher Bell, Busch, Brandon Jones, Daniel Hemric, and Ty Gibbs had all celebrated wins at the mile-long desert track.
This victory places Smith among the youngest drivers to ever win in the Xfinity Series, with only Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs being younger.
CHECKERED FLAG: SAMMY SMITH IS AN #XFINITYSERIES WINNER!
The @JoeGibbsRacing driver wins the #UnitedRentals200! pic.twitter.com/HK17d6BaTo
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 12, 2023
Smith’s passion for racing began at age 14 in 2019, when he started competing in the Arca Menards Series East. After years of hard work and dedication, Smith’s skill and talent have finally paid off with his latest victory. The win also helped Smith move up to the 11th spot in the Xfinity Series standings, adding to his growing list of accomplishments.
We think that Sammy Smith’s win at Phoenix Raceway marks an exciting milestone in his promising racing career and serves as a testament to his dedication, passion, and talent on the track. But what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
