Sammy Smith Finishes Strong 2nd In ARCA Race At IRP

Clermont, Ind. – Entering the Reese’s 200, Sammy Smith finished a season-worst 12th in the ARCA Menards Series most recent race at Pocono Raceway. At Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), Smith redeemed himself, winning his fourth career pole, leading 89 laps and finishing runner-up.

Smith was one of two leaders in the ARCA race at the 0.686-mile short track, the 11th race of this ARCA season. He led the second-most laps and was the highest-winning ARCA series regular. The winning driver? Chandler Smith, who now has won three straight ARCA races at IRP. Chandler Smith also is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff driver.

Finishing 1.212 seconds behind Chandler Smith wasn’t overly comforting to Sammy Smith though.

“Yeah, just got too tight there in the end, I think,” Sammy Smith told Frontstretch post-race. “That restart was tough. I don’t know, I feel like a good job. He was able to get me, just couldn’t get back by him.”

Sammy Smith fended off Chandler Smith several times throughout the 200-lap race.

Great racing on the restart!@sammysmithSS holds the lead after a challenge from @CSmithDrive on the inside.@RaceIRP pic.twitter.com/shA6iwxZ7p

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) July 29, 2022

Sammy Smith also led the ARCA field to the first competition caution.

Still, with a minuscule chance of winning the ARCA title, Sammy Smith didn’t take comfort in his eighth top five and eighth top 10 finish in only 10 career ARCA races.

“It feels good, doesn’t really mean anything if you don’t win,” Smith said about his performance this season. “We’ll take a second and move on.”

🏁 @sammysmithSS takes the checkered flag in P2 at @RaceIRP. pic.twitter.com/jY9jnPFYnm

— Kyle Busch Motorsports (@KBMteam) July 30, 2022

ARCA next heads to 2-mile Michigan International Speedway. It’ll be Smith’s first time at that course.

“Yeah, I am excited. It’ll be a good challenge and I’m looking forward to it.”

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