Chandler Smith from Talking Rock, GA wins at North Wilkesboro – Front Row Motorsports Photo
Ford Racing Notes and Quotes -NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
FaithFest 250 — North Wilkesboro Speeday
Saturday, July 18, 2026
SMITH POSTS REPEAT VICTORY WITH F-150 AT NORTH WILKEBORO SPEEDWAY
* Chandler Smith won at North Wilkesboro for the second straight year
this afternoon.
* It’s also the second straight year Smith and Riggs finished first
and second.
* Ford has now won six races this season and four of the last six
overall.
* The win is Smith’s second of the season after he captured the
season-opener in Daytona.
* That also marks his fourth win in two seasons driving for Front Row
Motorsports.
* The win is FRM’s 21st all-time and sixth in 2026, which is the
most for the organization in one season.
* Layne Riggs has four wins to go with Smith’s two.
* Overall, Ford has won 135 series races.
CHANDLER SMITH, No. 38 QuickTie Ford F-150 – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW
– WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN THAT TRUCK SPUN WITH TWO LAPS TO
GO? “I was just like, ‘Come on boys. Just keep it straight. It
ain’t that deep. I’m already right here.’ All glory goes to God.
We’ve been in the valley the past few weeks and I was telling these
guys, ‘God is good in the mountains, but he’s also good in the
valleys.’ We’ve been in the valleys. Today we’re on the
mountaintop. Either way, whether if we’re on the mountaintop or in the
valley we’re gonna keep raising Him. I just want to give all glory to
him. He’s the source of where all blessings and all the trials flow,
so I’m just grateful.” THE SHORT TRACK PROGRAM AT FRM IS REALLY
GOOD. HOW MUCH PRESSURE DID YOU PUT ON YOURSELF TO TRY AND REPEAT? “We
won last year and were really good and my truck wasn’t good. This
year, our truck was good and it reflected that.” HOW HARD WAS IT TO
FOCUS WITH THE HEAT? “I’m scorched to say the least.”
Ford Finishing Order:
1st – Chandler Smith
2nd – Layne Riggs
10th – Ty Majeski
13th – Jake Garcia
14th – Ben Rhodes
22nd – Cole Butcher
31st – Clayton Green
32nd – Frankie Muniz
33rd – Luke Baldwin
LAYNE RIGGS, No. 34 Infinity Communications Group Ford F-150 – “It
was hot. Congratulations to the 38 team and Chandler. They’ve had some
really tough races recently. I’m really proud of everybody at Front
Row Motorsports and the organization. A one-two finish again this year.
We did it the right way this time with no controversy on this one. That
first stage I was fighting tight and we freed it up. It was freer, but
it just didn’t make any speed so we really had to throw the wholesale
at it to start the final stage. I was loose to start again and just kind
of maintained. Once everyone else started falling off I was really good
on the long run. We just didn’t have the fire off speed at the
beginning of the run to hold my track position, but to come under green
up to second I’m very happy and very proud of my team. We got Infinity
Communications a good run. I wanted to get them a win, but I’m just
happy for this whole organization. Those guys deserve it. They did a
great job today.”
TY MAJESKI, No. 88 Great Lakes Flooring/Menards Ford F-150 – “I
liked the call to stay out. I didn’t feel like we were gonna get stage
points in that second stage, and I didn’t feel like we were probably
gonna finish better than fifth if we didn’t flip it. So, I feel like
it was a good call. I’m not positive on the points, so we’ll take it
and move on to a strong racetrack of ours in IRP. HOW HOT WAS IT TODAY?
“Lime Rock was probably worse last week. It was hot there, but
you’re working a lot harder at Lime Rock than you are here. A hot day,
but nothing too bad.”