From Adam Fenwick / arcaracing.com
BROWNSBURG, Ind. – It was a battle of two Smiths on Friday night at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
When the checkered flag waved, it was Chandler Smith who bested Sammy Smith to earn his first ARCA Menards Series victory of the season during the Reese’s 200 at the 0.686-mile asphalt oval. The event was also part of the Sioux Chief Showdown schedule.
The triumph also marked Chandler Smith’s third-straight ARCA Menards Series victory at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park dating back to 2019.
“Track position was pretty big,” said Chandler Smith, who is also one of 10 Playoff drivers who will battle for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship starting Friday night at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. “You wouldn’t think short track racing (that) aero matters, but it really does. After you’ve done some mile-and-a-half races in Trucks you start coming back and picking up on this a little bit.”
Sammy Smith started from the pole in the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota and led the opening 88 laps, but Chandler Smith was able to wheel his No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Toyota to the lead during a restart on Lap 89.
Once in front of the field, Chandler Smith would hold the lead for the remainder of the event despite pressure from Sammy Smith during multiple restarts and scraping the outside wall on the final lap in Turns 3 and 4.
Sammy Smith settled for second, his sixth top-five finish in seven ARCA Menards Series starts this season.
Taylor Gray, who had won the last two ARCA Menards Series events at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Pocono Raceway, crossed the finish line in third in the No. 17 David Gilliland Racing Ford.
Daniel Dye came home fourth for GMS Racing, with Connor Mosack completing the top-five for Bret Holmes Racing.
Jesse Love, Nick Sanchez, Rajah Caruth, Mamba Smith and Greg Van Alst rounded out the top-10 finishers.
The ARCA Menards Series season continues next Saturday when the ARCA Menards Series travels to Michigan International Speedway for the Henry Ford Health 200. The race will be available live on MAVTV and FloRacing.
See the full story and results:
Photo: arcaracing.com
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