Chandler Smith took the checkered flag in a dominating performance for Joe Gibbs Racing at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, cruising to a 4.495-second victory over teammates Aric Almirola and Tanner Gray in the ToyotaCare 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

The 21-year-old Georgia native made it back-to-back wins in this event after claiming his first career Xfinity Series victory here last spring. Smith led the final 60 laps in the No. 81 JGR Toyota and was out front for 76 laps total, earning his third career win and second of the 2024 season.

While Almirola won both stages and led a race-high 95 laps in his No. 20 Toyota, the former full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver could not run down Smith in the closing laps as the young gun pulled away.

“Never give up, never give up,” said Smith, who has posted top-10 finishes in all six 2024 Xfinity races. “This car was not good early, but we were able to do some strategy in Stage 2. Back here winning races consistently and took over the points lead too, I’m just blessed.”

Almirola tipped his cap to Smith’s performance despite having the dominant car for much of the day.

“We just got a little bit too loose,” Almirola said. “That last run, for whatever reason, different set of tires or what, I let Chandler go and when I started to just creep back to him, I didn’t have anything to go with.”

The Joe Gibbs Racing team swept the top three with 19-year-old Tanner Gray an impressive third in his Xfinity Series debut. Craftsman Truck Series regular Corey Heim was fourth, followed by rookie Jesse Love rounding out the top five.

It was also a stellar series debut for late model standout Bubba Pollard. After starting 37th, Pollard raced up to sixth in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

“I just got behind in qualifying there and it made for a long day,” Pollard said. “But JR Motorsports gave me a great race car. This place is tough, it’s technical and probably one of the toughest places I’ve been to.”

With the win, Smith takes a 10-point lead in the driver standings over Austin Hill as the Xfinity Series heads to Martinsville Speedway next Saturday night.