Chandler Smith Owns Up After Hard Crash Derails Promising Darlington Run
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Chandler Smith’s playoff momentum came to a screeching halt in Sunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500, when an aggressive move gone wrong triggered a massive crash that ended what had been shaping up as one of his strongest runs of the season.
Smith, who had shown speed throughout the weekend at Darlington Raceway, was running solidly inside the top 10 when contact with the wall spiraled into a heavy multi-car accident. The crash brought out a lengthy caution and left his car too damaged to continue.
After being evaluated and released from the infield care center, the 22-year-old driver was quick to take accountability.
“I just got a little too greedy,” Smith admitted. “We had a really fast car tonight, and I was trying to get everything I could out of it. At Darlington, you push a little too hard and it bites you. Unfortunately, that’s what happened.”
Nicknamed the “Lady in Black,” Darlington’s notoriously narrow racing grooves and unforgiving walls have punished even the sport’s best, and Smith’s wreck was a stark reminder of the track’s reputation. While he had shown the pace to compete for a top finish, the incident not only ended his night but also dealt a setback to his postseason campaign.
Despite the disappointment, Smith remained optimistic about his team’s potential moving forward.
“It stings, for sure, because this was a race where we could’ve made a statement,” he said. “But the good news is we know we have the speed. We just have to regroup and make it count in the next one.”
The setback leaves Smith with work to do as the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue, but with several tracks ahead that play to his strengths, his championship hopes remain alive — provided he can balance aggression with patience in the weeks ahead.
