Pit Stop Radio News

No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra News and Notes:

• SMITH AT LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) proved to be one of Chandler Smith’s best tracks in his NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) rookie season last year. In the 2023 spring race, Smith claimed the pole and led 53 of the last 55 laps for 118 total laps led – the most of any driver in the race. He was passed coming to the white flag by eventual winner, Austin Hill, and finished third. In the fall, Smith had another good race, earning a fourth-place finish after leading laps early in the race.
• PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Smith qualified 12th at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) this past weekend. He finished 14th in Stage One and sixth in Stage Two. When the last caution flag flew, Crew Chief Jeff Meendering made the call to bring the No. 81 QuickTie Toyota GR Supra down pit road for a splash of fuel. Smith restarted as the first car to pit and was in position to capitalize as cars in front of him ran out of fuel. The 21-year-old made an attempt at running down the leader, but came up just short and finished second.
• QUICKTIE: QuickTie Products, Inc., (“QuickTie”) manufactures and distributes the QuickTie™ System, a proprietary, patented hold down system for high wind and seismic construction. The QuickTie™ System comprises wire rope cables with threaded rod studs swaged to each end, each with a steel bearing plate on the top end. Their cables are designed to cinch walls to their foundations from the uppermost top plates, thereby effectively resisting roof uplift and building overturning pressures. QuickTie also manufactures hangers, hold downs, plywood clips and all structural building components.
• ON THE PITBOX: Meendering will crew chief the No. 81 team in 2024. He has visited Victory Lane eight times as a NXS crew chief, most recently with Sammy Smith at Phoenix in March 2023. His teams have collected 60 top-five finishes, 125 top-10 finishes, and 12 pole positions under his leadership.
• JGR AT LAS VEGAS: Joe Gibbs Racing owns three Xfinity Series wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 82 combined starts at the track, the organization has posted 25 top-five finishes, 46 top-10s, four pole awards, and 1,118 laps led. Kyle Busch and Ty Gibbs have both driven JGR Toyotas to victory lane at the 1.5-mile track.
• FOLLOW ALONG: Follow along for updates and a behind-the-scenes look at Smith’s 2024 NXS Season.

Twitter: @CSmith_Racing I Facebook: Chandler Smith I Instagram:  @csmith_racing

• RACE INFO: The LiUNA NXS Race is scheduled for 5:00 PM EST on Saturday, March 2. Coverage of the race will be on Fox Sports 1, PRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio and available to stream on the FOX Sports app.

From the Driver’s Seat:

Chandler Smith: “Last year, Las Vegas was a really good track for me. I feel confident there – I had two solid races last year and came so close to winning in the spring. The 81 team has good momentum coming off top-fives the past two weeks. We should have a good car this weekend to go out there and compete for the win.”

Smith’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

Smith’s 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

Smith’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

Joe Gibbs Racing PR