Missed opportunity!

For Chandler Smith, the United Rentals 250 was a race of high hopes and close calls. The 22-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been on fire recently, notching up five top-five finishes in his last six NASCAR Xfinity Series appearances. However, his fifth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway was bittersweet, as it thwarted his chance at a third win this season and an automatic Round of 8 spot in the playoffs.

Reflecting on the race’s result, Smith couldn’t help but feel that he let a valuable opportunity slip by, especially with the stakes being as high as they are. However, the Georgia native also expressed gratitude towards his racing team as he looks to build on the result at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Smith acknowledges improvement despite a disappointing finish

The weekend started strong, with Smith’s No. 81 Toyota Supra showing impressive speed, clinching third in qualifying. He carried that momentum into the race, winning Stage 1 after a solid 20 laps. Yet, he slipped back to fifth by the end of Stage 2, holding that spot until the race concluded. Despite this result, Smith remains comfortably in the standings, sitting second and 57 points above the elimination cutline as he heads into the next challenge at Charlotte’s road course.

Reflecting on the result in his post-race interview, Chandler Smith said, “I’m so upset, griping and moaning about not winning the race but super grateful for the No. 81 group, the No. 81 Supra was as fast as Xfinity internet today and all the men and women at Joe Gibbs Racing have been thrashing to bring this raw speed that we had in qualifying today and last time in Daytona. It’s a big step and a big game than what we had in the first Daytona, even the first Talladega race. Super proud of everybody. Can’t ask for anything more than that. Sucks we didn’t win it but it wasn’t in the good lord’s plan for us today and we’ll roll with that and I’m good with it.”

Despite the result at Talladega Superspeedway being his worst finish in four races, Smith has plenty of reasons to be positive about going into the business end of the Xfinity Series season. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver secured 48 points during the United Rentals 250, the second-highest amongst all the drivers, thanks to his seventh stage victory of the season. The ‘Dega’ is known for chaotic final laps and it was no different this time around. Chandler Smith was in third place during the final overtime restart and was all set to compete for a victory. However, late drama at the 2.66-mile oval forced the Georgia native to lose valuable track positions toward the end.

With the final Round of 12 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course on the horizon, Smith will hope for better luck at the Drive for the Cure 250. He currently leads the driver standings and will look to use his momentum to improve on his 12th-place result from last year. Just five races remain before the 2024 season comes to an end and if there was ever a time for Smith to enter Victory Lane, it’s in the next race. If his current form is anything to go by, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be in contention for the title at Phoenix Raceway later this year. Consistency will be key for the No. 81 Toyota driver to keep his championship hopes alive.

Could Chandler Smith move to Front Row Motorsports?

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He has only been at Joe Gibbs Racing for a year, but Chandler Smith has impressed with his performances to grab the attention of Cup Series teams already. With wins at Phoenix and Richmond Raceway, the 22-year-old is already driving with maturity beyond his years and has shown incredible consistency in the season so far. Thirteen top-five finishes in 28 races is nothing to scoff at and it’s no secret why he’s at the very top of the Xfinity Series standings at the moment.

According to Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass, Chandler Smith could be considered for Front Row Motorsports’ third charter for the 2025 season. While Zane Smith remains the most likely candidate for the seat, recent results in the Cup Series have been less than convincing, which may prompt team owner Bob Jenkins to look elsewhere. The team’s performances are only expected to improve in the future after their relationship with Ford was upgraded to a Tier 1 status. However, will this be the best move for the 22-year-old racing driver?

Perhaps not. At this stage of his career, Smith needs stability to develop as a racing driver and he has already changed three teams in as many years in the Xfinity Series. Switching across manufacturers can also hurt his long-term development as the Georgia native has already alternated between Toyota and Chevrolet in his short career. Joe Gibbs Racing offers him a competitive car to hone his skills in NASCAR’s second tier and Chandler Smith should focus on getting results in his No. 81 Toyota instead of rushing into the Cup Series.