Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Chandler Smith, John Hunter Nemechek react to big wreck in Phoenix

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated 3/9/24

Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chandler Smith and John Hunter Nemechek got into one another and caused a massive wreck. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race got exciting on the late restart.

Cautions were far and few between in this race. Then with 62 laps a caution came out for Hailie Deegan making minor contact with the wall. On the ensuing restart, Chandler Smith got into a bad three-wide position and turned Nemechek.

In total thirteen cars were involved in this wreck. Contenders, middle-of-the-pack drivers, and more. Almost everyone got a taste of this one.

Dustin Albino of JaySki tweeted what Smith went on his radio after the incident.

“I’m going to get my a-- scolded on Monday. Lovely,” the No. 81 driver said.

As for John Hunter Nemechek, he wasn’t sure what happened. He knows that they will have a conversation on Monday in the team meeting, though.

“I don’t know, there was a little bit of contact, and next thing I knew I was sideways, so part of it,” Nemechek told the media after being released from the care center.

John Hunter Nemechek gives his perspective on the accident while battling with JGR teammate Chandler Smith during the Xfinity race at Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/yyLzvGQLty
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 9, 2024

Both of these drivers had cars capable of winning today. John Hunter Nemechek did not get to race his to the finish line. However, that doesn’t mean Chandler Smith didn’t close out the day on a strong note.

Chandler Smith wins Xfinity Series race at Phoenix

This was a fun race to keep up with today. There were multiple leaders who were strong at times. Those leaders did not stay up front all day, though. Chandler Smith won the opening stage of the race and Cole Custer took home Stage 2.

Late in this race, Justin Allgaier and his No. 7 Chevy really started to catch on. Allgaier had given himself a three-second lead with five laps to go. That is when disaster struck. Allgaier lost his rear tire, spun around, and slammed the wall. Smith would assume the lead on the overtime restart.

Racing is a fickle thing. There are times when you dominate all day and are rewarded with a trophy and a big check. Then there are those days where you are hit with a stroke of bad luck at the last minute.

While Allgaier was upset, Chandler Smith was more than happy. When the overtime restart got going, Smith launched really well and never looked back. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver put his 81 car in Victory Lane and picked up his second career win in the Xfinity Series.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: