The win came in Smith’s tenth career NXS start, and is the second consecutive win for Kaulig Racing. The team also won last weekend at COTA with A.J Allmendinger.
Smith also won at Richmond last year as a NASCAR Truck Series driver. He has been impressive as a rookie in the Xfinity Series with four top-fives in the first seven races of the year.
“Feels great,” said an elated Smith after his victory burnout. “Vegas, we dominated that race (but) didn’t win. Said it was all in God’s timing. He’s creating something way bigger and better than I know what to do with. Here we are at Richmond – my favorite race track and we’re sitting in Victory Lane. So, all glory goes to God. Thank you Chris Rice, Matt Kaulig, Quick Tie Products, my smoking hot wife and everybody at Kaulig Racing. This is unbelievable.”
A disappointed Nemechek finished a close second, just three tenths back at the finish line.
“We weren’t very good on the short run,” said Nemechek post-race. “We had a long run speed car. Came from the back up there to battle for the win and put ourselves into position … Disappointed to run runner-up again. That’s the last three races here (where) I’ve run second, so it’s frustrating but we’ll go back to work. We just have to figure out how to execute a little bit better. No. 16 (C. Smith) had the best car on the short run. It was going to be hard to hold him off.”
Josh Berry was third, Kaz Grala fourth, and Cole Custer fifth.
Sheldon Creed, Ryan Sieg, Parker Kligerman, Austin Hill, and Derek Kraus rounded out the top-ten.
Justin Allgaier was the top-finishing Dash 4 Cash driver in 13th, earning the $100,000 bonus.
Stage 1
After a brief rain delay, the race finally got going Saturday afternoon with Allgaier leading the field to the green flag.
Rookie Sammy Smith quickly moved into the race lead. Pole-sitter Allgaier then fell down the running order until he was outside the top-ten.
Joe Graf Jr., driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, slowed with a left-front tire failure and contacted the outside wall. The race remained green as he limped back to the pits. The cut tire was the result of contact from Custer.
The first yellow flag flew at Lap 35 for a pre-planned competition caution, due to the rain before the race. Garrett Smithley was awarded the free pass.
It was a split strategy with race leader Smith and his teammate Nemechek staying out with the intent to save a set of tires…
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