Sammy Smith readies for Nashville Superspeedway.

Sammy Smith hoped to have luck on his side at Nashville Superspeedway. (Photo Credit: Griffin Fuller | Pit Pass Network)

Lucky 13 rides along with the driver who qualifies 13th, keeping an eye on how their race unfolds. This driver could be sent to the back of the pack and still pull off a victory, or their luck could take a nosedive early in the race. With luck on their side – or against them – anything can happen! So, grab your four-leaf clovers, your lucky horseshoes, and maybe even a rabbit’s foot for the latest Lucky 13! Will it be fortune or misfortune? Let’s find out!

Tennessee Lottery 250

Driver: Sammy Smith
Organization & Number: JR Motorsports, #8
Crew Chief: Phillip Bell
Spotter: Frank Kimmel

Since full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain qualified in the top 12, Lucky 13 moved to the 13th regular-season driver in the field. This gave the Nashville nod to Sammy Smith who started P14.

“In it to win it!” – Phillip Bell

Stage 1

A clean opening lap saw Sammy Smith maintain P14. However, three laps later, the JR Motorsports driver was in a three-wide battle, but retained P14 once things shook out.

Smith gained a position on Lap 12, but he quickly returned to P14. Four laps later, Smith gave an update on his handling, noting his most trouble was on exit. And another spot was lost.

Despite the loss of position, spotter Frank Kimmel informed his driver he was matching the lap times of the next five cars.

Smith quickly indicated he was worried about fuel pressure.

After a nudge from Corey Day, Smith fell to P16 and radioed in, “Just so tight on exit.”

A few laps later, the concern was back about fuel as Smith asked, “You’re sure you got it back full after practice?” Kimmel responded in the affirmative as Smith lost another spot.

The radio was quiet until 10 to go when Parker Retzlaff and Kyle Seig wrecked. During the caution, the No. 8 team worked to diagnose the fuel pressure issue and ultimately pitted for tires and fuel.

(Photo Credit: Griffin Fuller)

With four to go, Smith lined up P18. In the midst of the chaos, Smith worked his way to P12.

With one to go, Day went for a spin, forcing the stage to end under yellow.

Stage 2

The second stage began with Smith in P8 as drivers took it multiple cars wide into Turn 1. Smith held his ground as he battled with Sam Mayer and Josh Williams.

Sammy Smith goes three-wide!

(Photo Credit: Griffin Fuller | Pit Pass Network)

The next lap saw Blaine Perkins sliding through the grass, bringing out the next caution.

With 25 to go in the stage, the race resumed, and Smith gained a spot on the restart. Drivers took it three- and four-wide throughout the field.

Mayer was all over Smith’s bumper. With that, Smith fell to P10.

Bell radioed in to his driver, “Gotta fight.”

Taylor Gray worked around Smith, and Bell encouraged his driver to attempt a “Dover Diamond” on the next turn to try something new. While trying this over the next few laps, Smith fell to P13. After Harrison Burton and Josh Williams got around him, he was scored P15.

Smith told his team, “So tight! So bound up.” Kimmel let him know a big swing was coming at the next stop.

Once the stage came to a close, Smith was scored P15, and Bell went to work, delivering on the promise.

Stage 3

Smith sat 14th when the final stage kicked off. Kimmel reminded him that the race was barely halfway, and one more stop faced the team.

The race went green and immediately went yellow after a huge pile-up that began in Smith’s rearview.

Following a lengthy caution, Smith sat P13 with 79 to go.

Twenty laps later, Smith was still running P13 but battling for position.

William Sawalich went sliding through the grass with 53 to go, bringing out the next caution. Before Sawalich went sliding, he put Smith in the wall. Smith was sitting P12 and asked to come back down a bit on the trackbar.

His team got him off pit road ninth fastest, earning him three spots on track.

With 48 to go, Smith was running P10. Three laps later, he was in a gaggle of six cars fighting for real estate. Once it shook out, he earned P8. However, after two more laps around the track, he was back to P10.

As Smith took 34 to go, Jesse Love worked his way around the No. 8, and Carson Kavapil soon followed. This pushed Smith back to P12.

With 10 to go, Smith was running P11 and was told, “We’re one spot away from a top 10.”

After 188 laps, Smith brought it home P11. A dejected Smith said, “A disappointing day. We gotta figure it out.”

NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to Pilot Flying J, who played a huge part of the weekend for Sammy and the No. 8 team.

Be sure to give Sammy Smith (Facebook, Instagram, X) and JR Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.