Joe Gibbs’ Star Confesses Being Left “Griping & Moaning” After Embarrassing Talladega Miss

Missed opportunity!

For Chandler Smith, the United Rentals 250 was a race of high hopes and close calls. The 22-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been on fire recently, notching up five top-five finishes in his last six Xfinity Series appearances. However, his fifth-place finish at Talladega was bittersweet, as it thwarted his chance at a third win this season and an automatic Round of 8 spot.

The weekend started strong, with Smith's No. 81 Toyota Supra showing impressive speed, clinching third in qualifying. He carried that momentum into the race, winning Stage 1 after a solid 20 laps. Yet, he slipped back to fifth by the end of Stage 2, holding that spot until the race concluded. Despite this result, Smith remains comfortably in the standings, sitting second and 57 points above the elimination cutline as he heads into the next challenge at Charlotte's road course.

Reflecting on the result in his post-race interview, Chandler Smith said, "I'm so upset, griping and moaning about not winning the race but super grateful for the No. 81 group, the No. 81 Supra was as fast as Xfinity internet today and all the men and women at Joe Gibbs Racing have been thrashing to bring this raw speed that we had in qualifying today and last time in Daytona. It's a big step and a big game than what we had in the first Daytona, even the first Talladega race. Super proud of everybody. Can't ask for anything more than that. Sucks we didn't win it but it wasn't in the good lord's plan for us today and we'll roll with that and I'm good with it."