RADIO
Competition In First Duel Race Likely Too Stout For Chandler Smith To Make Daytona 500
Although Chandler Smith was undeservedly demoted from the Xfinity Series to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025, he got another opportunity to enter the Daytona 500 this year but seems unlikely to qualify for the second straight year, particularly after his car chief was ejected when the No. 66 team failed inspection. Now driving for Garage 66 -- the Carl Long-owned team previously known as MBM Motorsports -- Smith qualified only 42nd overall and sixth among the eight non-chartered drivers. In order to advance to the Daytona 500, he will need to finish ahead of Justin Allgaier, Hélio Castroneves, and J.J. Yeley, and his car likely isn't fast enough. He will also need to finish ahead of Martin Truex Jr. if Truex doesn't finish higher than the other non-chartered drivers. Although he will likely outrun Castroneves and Yeley, he probably needs Allgaier to have bad luck in order to advance.
Source: Racing Reference
Source: Racing Reference
