With Veteran Mindset, Smith Set For Truck Series Playoffs

Chandler Smith (Rusty Jones/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Although Chandler Smith may only be 23 years old, there isn’t much on the NASCAR national series scene that he hasn’t seen before.

Ahead of his third Craftsman Truck Series postseason, that experience could pay off as he aims to battle title favorite Corey Heim and eight other competitors for the championship.

Smith has four top fives, 13 top 10s and an average finish of ninth headed into the playoff opener of Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Aug. 30 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

“I feel like our biggest strength is our team, due to our consistency. But we’ve gone through a slump the last two or three months and just have not been able to show up hitting the balance like it should be, and not had great speed,” said Smith. “But I’m confident in my No. 38 team to turn that around going into the playoffs and hopefully we pick up the pace and momentum.

“All we have to do is make it to Phoenix, and I’m confident with all of the things that we’ve got. All of the resources that Ford provides us with, we have at our disposal to at least make it to Phoenix [and have a shot in the championship race].”

Chandler Smith in victory lane at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May. (Scotte Sprinkle/Motorsports Hotspot photo)

Smith evaluates himself on wins, and that’s something he hasn’t done since his last victory in May at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. However, he does have six top tens in his last seven races.

But to meet driver and Front Row’s team standards, Smith said both he and his team must execute more efficiently over the next seven races.

He feels the first round of Darlington, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Sept. 11, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sept. 20 are all good for his team due to his racing background and having grown up cutting his teeth on short ovals.

“The first round is our strong suit, especially going back to Bristol. We won there earlier this year, and New Hampshire is one of my favorite tracks. They both have a lot of similarities, and I consider it a short track,” he said. “Darlington, I’m not sure what to expect. It’s been forever since I’ve been there in a truck. The past few times I’ve been there in the Xfinity Series have been OK, but not great.

“At Darlington I’m just looking to maximize the day with whatever we’ve got,” he said. “Then at Bristol and New Hampshire, we’re going for checkered flags to make sure we advance ourselves to the next round.”

The Talking Rock, Ga., native compared the playoff Round of 8 – featuring the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway – as the “haymaker” round.

Each venue in that slate is different from one another, with a road course, superspeedway, and short track on deck. At that point, Smith is looking to survive and advance to get to the Phoenix finale.

This year is Smith’s fifth playoff appearance combined between the Truck Series and Xfinity Series. He said he has learned and gained experience on how to handle scenarios and understand that on the days he doesn’t have the speed to win, it’s about learning how to maximize what he does have.

He has two playoff runs on the Xfinity side with Kaulig Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023 and 2024, respectively. In the final standings after both of those campaigns, he finished inside the top 10, and was fifth overall last season for JGR.

With that, Smith feels ready for the challenge in his Truck Series return.

“We want to go to Phoenix and we want to win the championship. I’ve learned over the years of being in the playoffs that your situational awareness needs to be at an all-time high, and you must know who you’re racing and the situation,” he said. “If we don’t have a truck to win the race that day, we’ve got to take a step back and be like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to maximize the day.’ This playoff system rewards getting to Phoenix and being the best when you’re there.

“It doesn’t necessarily reward the guy that’s got seven wins for the season. It rewards the guy who makes it and beats the other three once you get there. Being aware of that and making sure that you keep that mindset going all the way is important.”

But Smith understands that his road to Phoenix starts with race one at Darlington. Overlooking each event in the rounds leading to November can see a contender eliminated quickly if they aren’t careful.

“Darlington is definitely one of the tougher tracks that the Truck Series goes to specifically because it’s worn out, it’s got low grip and it does pay dividends to run the fence there. But there is a silver lining with not running composite bodies, so if you get into the fence trying to get that extra little bit that can end your day right there,” he noted. “It’s not like an Xfinity car, where you can go into a corner and pancake it and keep on digging.”

Smith last ran a Truck Series race at Darlington three years ago in 2022 for former league powerhouse Kyle Busch Motorsports. He has one top 10 in four starts, which was a seventh-place effort in 2021.

However, he has qualified inside the top 10 twice at the track in the Truck Series. And last year on the Xfinity side, he finished eighth for JGR.

“You have to assess your situation and pick and choose your battles,” Smith added regarding Darlington.

With the start time at noon in the middle of the day the track will be slick. That is something Smith has loved over his racing career.

“It’s so much fun just slipping and sliding. It puts it in the driver’s hands a lot more when you have those conditions, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Coverage of the Sober or Slammer 200 is slated to begin Saturday, Aug. 30 at 12 p.m. ET on FS1, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.