Johnston, Iowa native Sammy Smith earned his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win on Saturday, beating out Kyle Busch, John Hunter Nemechek, and Ryan Truex to cross the line first at Phoenix Raceway.
Busch’s NASCAR Cup Series debut – which officially started the mark of his illustrious career – came on March 7, 2004. Three months later, Smith was born on June 4.
The teenager has been rising through the ranks of NASCAR’s development tours having won two ARCA East championships and a Sioux Chief Showdown title – Smith was too young to run the full-time national schedule a year ago.
Joe Gibbs Racing brought Smith into the fold to run the full schedule in the Xfinity tour this year, and it looks as though it’s already paid off.
With the win, Smith will hold a spot in the series playoffs and he showed Saturday he has the poise needed to succeed in the sport despite his young age.
Smith and his Pilot Flying J Racing team will go for another win next week, as the Xfinity Series visits Atlanta Motor Speedway for its fifth event of the year.
