Newton, IA. – With three ARCA Menards Series East victories this year, Sammy Smith entered the first East combination race with the main ARCA Menards Series nine points ahead of Taylor Gray. Smith led laps on Saturday (June 11), but he ultimately finished second to his Toyota comrade Brandon Jones at Iowa Speedway.
Smith posted the fastest lap during the practice session. Yet his No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota had electrical issues during qualifying, and he wound up starting ninth. His team fixed the issues, but Smith, therefore, had to start the Calypso Lemonade 150 at the tail end of the field.
It took Smith five laps to enter the top 10. At the first competition caution at lap 50, Smith led the field. 50 laps later, Smith was in third place behind Jesse Love and Brandon Jones.
His Kyle Busch Motorsports crew pitted his No. 18, and Smith regained the lead.
Power move 💪@sammysmithSS takes the lead at @iowaspeedway!@MAVTV | @FloRacing pic.twitter.com/xumyZRpLGv
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 12, 2022
With less than 20 to go, however, Jones powered past Smith en route to winning his second straight main ARCA race.
The battle for the lead >>>@BrandonJonesRac to P1 with fewer than 20 to go!@iowaspeedway | @MAVTV pic.twitter.com/Va8XfgWfMG
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 12, 2022
After the race, Smith pointedly stated the reason for his runner-up finish, 2.843 seconds behind Jones.
“Just got too free,” Smith said. “I was doing everything I could. Felt like it did everything right tonight. Had good restarts, had good short-run speed, worked the air as best I could. Just got beat. I don’t know what else we could’ve done. Needed a tighter car.”
Jones competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Smith will make his Xfinity debut this year with eight slated starts.
Did running toe-to-toe with Jones for much of the race validate Smith’s opportunity? He…
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