Chandler Smith enters his first NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs with confidence. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
BRISTOL, Tenn. – At age 21, Chandler Smith is on the precipice of realizing a dream as a competitive stock car racer.
Graduating from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2023, the Talking Rock, Georgia native is tenacious and determined. Smith won his first XFINITY race in his 10th career start at Richmond Raceway, punching his ticket into the Playoffs.
Now, the driver of the No. 16 Quick Tie Products, Inc. Chevrolet Camaro, fielded by Kaulig Racing, pursues the ultimate prize in NASCAR XFINITY Series competition – the championship. Tallying five top fives, nine top 10s and three pole positions, it has been a competitive rookie season for Smith.
Despite his young age and freshman status in NASCAR’s second highest division, he has grown and evolved, on and off the track.
“I’ve just grown a lot as a driver,” Smith said. “I feel like just getting more experience on the race tracks. Kaulig Racing gave me an opportunity of being able to dip my toes in a Cup car a few times, so that’s been cool and that experience has been good. So I think I’ve just grown as a race car driver and definitely as an individual.
“I feel like having my wife and son and now another one on the way, trying to navigate being a father husband and also be professionally at the best that I can on the racetrack for my partners and everything I’ve had to learn how to do that. So I feel like I’m just growing as an individual and keep on with that process.”
Smith’s promotion to XFINITY competition has been the result of teamwork among his organization’s racers. Namely, he sang his praises for his teammates for easing the learning curve for him on the plethora of tracks comprising the schedule.
Throughout the season, Chandler Smith has worked with teammate Daniel Hemric to elevate his race craft. (Photo: Kyle Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
“Yeah, just the notebook and experience that’s under the roof at Kaulig Racing between AJ (Allmendinger), Daniel (Hemric) and some of the other drivers that we’ve had, like Kyle Larson (and) Kyle Busch this year has definitely helped me adapt to the XFINITY car and the XFINITY Series,” he said. “I feel like we’ve had a good group of drivers come through this year and it’s helped everybody in the organization.”
Notably, Kaulig Racing places emphasis on trophy hunting for race wins and their first championships for the team and their drivers. Succeeding Allmendinger in Kaulig’s No. 16 ride this year, Smith has been meticulous, astute and savvy throughout this year.
Along the way, Smith has sipped his first cups of coffee in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond and Daytona. In his two starts, he placed 17th and 15th by driving patiently and keeping all his fenders in tact.
Those starts in the Cup Series seem to be paying dividends for Smith ahead of his first trip into the XFINITY Series postseason hunt. Like a professional athlete in baseball or football, having any kind of postseason play can help when reaching the major leagues.
“Any reps or experience that you have will give you better mojo going into the round of whatever it may be,” Smith said. “Just being able to have experience going in is better than going in with with none at all.
“I remember two years ago, my first ever time getting into the Playoffs in the Truck Series, I was completely blindsided and kind of my approach of how I needed to race, to be honest with you, I barely even made it into the Playoffs. So, that was a huge learning curve and whatnot. I almost made it into the Round of 4 that year.”
Placing eighth in the Truck championship in 2021, he applied lessons from that season with last year’s efforts to progress in his title quest, placing third in the standings.
“I told myself last year, I’m going to make it to the round of four,” he said. “And we did. We made it to Phoenix and had a shot at it. And that’s all I want this year is a shot at the XFINITY title.”
One of those responsible for Smith’s chance at a championship is his crew chief Bruce Schlicker. The 42-year-old Clarksburg, West Virginia native has bonded and meshed well with the Georgia native in fine fashion.
The duo of Bruce Schlicker and Chandler Smith have clicked with getting results throughout this year. (Photo: Cole Penning | The Podium Finish)
“Yeah, we’ve grown a lot,” he said. “It’s been great. Bruce is a great guy. I feel like we’re a really good fit. He’s a good crew chief, good guy on the side. He’s family, man, just like myself.
“He’s definitely good at separating professional to business life or professional to personal life. And he’s an amazing individual. I’ve learned a lot from him, honestly.”
While Smith and his No. 16 team vie for this year’s title, he will have plentiful motivation to hoist the trophy at Phoenix Raceway in November. Mainly, he has a strong fanbase in the Southeast.
“Racing at Atlanta and Talladega… I mean that’s where I’m from,” he said. “I’m from Georgia so big fanbase in Nashville, Atlanta, Alabama… I have a huge fan base there and that’s what I grew up going to those races as well as far as Talladega and Atlanta.
“So I’m feeling at home, all the fans just happy to see another Georgia boy out on a racetrack cheering them on. That, I’d say… that’s pretty welcoming.”
Editor’s Notes
Nathan Solomon contributed to this feature from NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs Media Day.
