HOMESTEAD, Fla. — After two full seasons, which included a trio of victories, within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence, Chandler Smith has returned to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence this season.
Smith has amassed three top-10 finishes in three races within the No. 38 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford and ranks fourth within the standings getting into Friday’s occasion at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Smith shared his crew’s story with the media Friday afternoon. Smith’s return to the sequence because the second driver (Layne Riggs) within the Entrance Row steady got here just a few weeks earlier than the season started.
“I feel we lastly completed the hiring course of two weeks earlier than Daytona, possibly per week and a half earlier than Daytona on our final man,” Smith defined. “We didn’t get our crew chief employed till possibly two weeks, possibly three weeks out of Daytona, so it undoubtedly was very last-minute, however I couldn’t be happier with the group that we assembled, actually. I imply, it’s turned out nice. Everyone is working collectively nice. We’ve received actually quick vans. We’ve received numerous motivated people which can be on our crew and I really feel like within the place that I’m in, I’m taking a look at this as serving to to construct this program up a little bit bit.
“I’ve taken it on my shoulders a little bit extra to step as much as that position much more than I’ve in 12 months’s previous, identical to final 12 months being at Gibbs – properly established and revered group,” Smith added. “It’s form of only a plug-and-play deal. This was not a plug-and-play deal. This was much more than simply that. It’s undoubtedly been an expertise. I wouldn’t change it for something and I’m tremendous grateful for the chance that Bob Jenkins and Jerry Freeze has given me.”
Smith was a five-time Truck Sequence winner with Kyle Busch Motorsports earlier than making an attempt his hand on the Xfinity Sequence and Cup Sequence.
“They drive the identical as what they did a number of years in the past after I was in them,” Smith mentioned. “Clearly, I’m driving for a unique group. They’ve totally different approaches on setups and totally different approaches on how they construct their race vans in comparison with the place I used to be in 12 months’s previous, so it’s been adjusting to that a little bit bit and taking what’s labored for them up to now and what’s labored for me up to now and totally different organizations and form of bringing it collectively and developing with a fair higher product. That’s form of the place we’re at proper now. I felt like Las Vegas was our first race.
“It was an excellent learn. It felt like each me and Layne received a very good information level of the place we have been and what we wanted to do. My crew chief, Jon Leonard, we each talked and had some nice concepts going ahead and hopefully we will see how good they prove right this moment. We’ve carried out some modifications, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly quite a bit totally different than what I’ve been accustomed to for the previous two years.”
Smith described what he issues he must be aggressive at Homestead’s 1.5-mile speedway.
“It simply wants maneuverability. That’s all Truck racing is now,” he famous. “You’re operating a lot throttle time, granted you’re not gonna have a bunch of throttle time right here at Homestead, however to go after the pole in three and 4 you’re gonna barely be lifting in any respect, so that you’re nonetheless operating numerous throttle time, so with the ability to have good maneuverability and good lateral grip is fairly key for right here.”
