FORT WORTH, Tx: Coming into the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, Sammy Smith knew that consistency was going to have to be his friend in order to make it to the Round of 8 and he did just that.
With being just four points above the cutline, the No.18 Joe Gibbs Racing driver had to do everything he could to continue his drive for the playoffs.
Smith would start Stage 1 in the 15th place with his crew chief Jeff Meendering telling his young driver “Just looking for a solid day here. I know you can do that.”
In a race mired with cautions, 12 to be exact and the most in any race this season, the Johnston, IA native would keep his nose clean and avoid any major contact throughout the race.
Stage 1 would be one where the 19-year-old driver would move up cautiously, avoiding the large black area on the track that seemed to be a problem for other drivers and end the stage in ninth place.
However, at the end of the first stage, the cooling suit of Smith would fail to work leaving him in the hot seat, literally. Temperatures in the car would top 120 degrees and the driver asked for two bags of ice to help keep him cooler in the car.
Pitting prior to the start of Stage 2, the driver would come to pit road for a new set of Goodyear tires, fuel and an air adjustment as Smith would tell the team that he starts the run loose & gets tighter in the long run.
The second stage would prove to be a stage of consistency for the All State/Peterbilt Toyota driver and he would come to pit road for what would be a lengthy pit stop. A lug nut would get caught in the brakes and the team would need to retrieve and get Smith back on the track but in the 13th position for the start of Stage 3.
As soon as the green flag was displayed it would be quickly replaced by the caution flag for a multi-car accident. Smith would tell the team “Kinda hit the 26 car.” The team would reply back that his car looks good and to remain on the track.
Smith would continue to better his position lap by lap and caution by caution. Green flag pit stops would begin on Lap 156 and Smith would bring his Toyota Supra to pit road on Lap 157 for a set of tires, an air adjustment and fuel but prior to leaving, the yellow flag would be displayed putting Smith and several other leaders down a lap.
Returning to the track in the 12th position, Smith would have an upward battle to get back on the lead lap but the 44 car of Daniel Dye would bring out the caution on Lap 161 putting the group of leaders back on the lead lap.
Working his way through the field once again, Smith would gain positions and when the caution came out once again on Lap 180 he would take a chance and come to pit road for four tires and fuel.
Continuing his charger through the field, Sammy Smith would end the day in third place, but better yet he would move up in the Playoff standings to sixth position and 18 points above the cutline.
Communicating to his team as he came to pit road, Smith told him that” I need someone to help me to get out of the car.” The team told him that they would have someone to help him, and they would have medical there just in case.
“I felt pretty miserable (inside the car). I feel like I do a lot of training outside the car. I think that’s what helped me get through that day today,” Smith said.
“Overall, I had a very fast car. Thanks to everyone at JGR,” Smith said. We had a good day. That’s what we needed, and we’ll move on to the Roval.
When asked if he thought that he was continuing to be consistent in drive to advance to the playoffs he would have to say “I thought we were a top-five car all day. Thanks to everyone on the team – they’ve been working hard.
We did what we needed to accomplish. We just need to go to the Roval and have a good day.”
Up next for Sammy Smith will be the final race in the Round of 12 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Saturday October 7th at 3:30pm E.T. in the Drive For a Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
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