“This is a dream come true”: High school senior Sammy Smith wins NASCAR Xfinity race in Phoenix

Driving the #18 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing, Sammy Smith claimed his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on Sunday’s United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway.

Smith emerged victorious when he held off teammate Ryan Truex after a restart with 15 laps remaining to take the checkered flag. He led a race-high 92 laps, including the final 52 laps, and took the lead from veteran Kyle Busch on Lap 149.

The 20-year-old became the youngest Xfinity Series winner after beating Truex by 0.641 seconds in an action-packed race. The win marked Joe Gibbs Racing's 16th victory at the one-mile track.

Speaking to the media after the race, Sammy Smith, who takes his high school classes online, said:

“This is a dream come true, and I did know that at some point this was coming. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of great people around me. Without all of these guys, I wouldn’t be here.”

He continued:

“That was tough with all of those restarts – and going against some of the best. I just have to thank everybody on Pilot/Flying J, Toyota, JGR guys and everybody on this 18 team for giving me an awesome car. This is awesome.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Truex matched his career-best P2 finish, followed by Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, and Chandler Smith completing the top five.

John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, Josh Berry, Kyle Busch, and Daniel Hemric completed the top 10.

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Where did Sammy Smith and other drivers finish at the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ fourth race at Phoenix Raceway?

Here are the final results for NASCAR's 2023 United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway:

1. Sammy Smith
2. Ryan Truex
3. Sheldon Creed
4. Riley Herbst
5. Chandler Smith
6. John Hunter Nemechek
7. Austin Hill
8. Josh Berry
9. Kyle Busch
10. Daniel Hemric
11. Sam Mayer
12. Cole Custer
13. Brett Moffitt
14. Anthony Alfredo
15. Parker Kligerman
16. Ryan Sieg
17. Kyle Weatherman
18. Parker Retzlaff
19. Ryan Ellis
20. Jeremy Clements
21. Josh Williams
22. Jeb Burton
23. Brandon Jones
24. Connor Mosack
25. Kyle Sieg
26. Joey Gase
27. Leland Honeyman
28. Bayley Currey
29. Brennan Poole
30. Patrick Emerling
31. Joe Graf Jr
32. Garrett Smithley
33. Jeffrey Earnhardt
34. Kaz Grala
35. Blaine Perkins
36. Justin Allgaier
37. Gray Gaulding
38. Dawson Cram

The NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule will return next weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 18, 2023.