Who The Heck is…Sammy Smith?



Yesterday Sammy Smith won his first Xfinity Series race, beating the stars of Nascar’s second-tier series, as well as a few Cup drivers dropping down for an “easy” win (Kyle Busch, I’m looking in your direction).  But who IS this driver who has suddenly popped onto the national racing scene?  Let’s find out!


Sammy’s family is friends with the Annett family, as in Michael Annett, which explains the Pilot/FlyingJ sponsorship.  On the flip side, unlike Annett, Sammy seems to actually have, y’know, talent.


Prior to this year Sammy has competed in such diverse series as CARS and ARCA.  And let’s take a good long second to admire the the CARS Series, the most-generic sounding name in motorsports since “Team Racing”.


Speaking of ARCA, Sammy raced there last year for Kyle Busch Motorsports, winning the East Series championship for the second-straight year.  Its helpful to know that KBM continues to make stars for teams Kyle doesn’t race for.


With yesterday’s win Sammy Smith becomes the youngest-ever winner in the Xfinity/Nationwide/Busch Series.  While I don’t have time to look it up, I’m going to assume the record was previous held by either Joey Logano or Casey Atwood.


Smith has won such prestigious regional races as the Winchester 400, Redbud 400, Farmer Frank’s Challenge, and Florida Governor’s Cup—and its up to YOU to determine which of those I made up.



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Nascar Race Picks: Uncle Max vs. The Tarot Deck—Phoenix



Its almost tournament time—and no, I don’t mean the meaningless World Baseball Classic.  I mean March Madness is almost here!  I run a few bracket pools every year, usually two at work (one for everyone, one just for my fellow managers) and run at least one for my group of friends.  I’ll have my picks next week—hey, and you thought my Nascar picks were bad!

But seriously, this has NOT been a good start to my season.  Three weeks in, still no winners.  Here’s hoping the trip to the desert breaks up this drought.


TRUCK SERIES —off till next week


Saturday Afternoon XFINITY SERIES United Rentals 200: Kyle Busch—Groundhog Day is back again again.


Sunday CUP SERIES United Rentals 500:  The Tarot Deck selects The Queen of Swords, last week’s winner William Byron.  FAVORITE: Alex Bowman—the HMS train (or should that be boat?) keeps rolling.  NEXT FAVORITE: Kyle Larson—retribution from last week.  DARK HORSE: Josh Berry—maybe I’m outsmarting myself here.


www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


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Spade Racing Opens a Box of Panini PRIZM Cards, Part 9 of 12


Pack 9: Two Dales, White Whales, and Hair Gales


FIRST LOOK: Thanks to Panini owning the licenses for certain drivers for years after their retirements, we get cards for drivers like Dale Jr.  Although due to the controversial management of his father’s estate by his widow, we don’t get Dale Sr. cards.  Strange.


TO THE BACK: Rusty seemed to REALLY want to win a title after joining Penske Racing South, but his best shot came in 1993 when Dale Sr. essentially wrecked him out of the championship.


SAY WHAT: “Uh-oh, is that breeze making my hair flip up like a roof flap?”


RATING: 9 End Over End Flips out of 10


www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


www.facebook.com/spaderacing


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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing


Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized


Does this track have lights?


A MOXOC Media production

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