Garrett Smithley overcame a difficult starting position to finish 27th in Saturday's The Progress Group 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. The JD Motorsports driver qualified 37th and gained 10 positions during the 94-lap event.
Smithley entered the afternoon facing the challenge of working through a competitive field while JR Motorsports controlled the leading drafting lanes. His No. 0 Chevrolet initially remained near the rear of the field as competitors battled for position through the opening stages.
However, the changing running order provided opportunities to improve his position as drivers attempted different drafting strategies. Smithley remained competitive during the opening segments and avoided the significant problems that affected several
championship contenders.
The race's first major accident occurred on Lap 57 when contact involving Harrison Burton and Taylor Gray triggered a multicar incident. Smithley avoided race-ending damage and continued racing during the final stage. He ultimately finished 27th, completing all 94 laps and earning 10 points.
The result helped Smithley maintain 29th in the overall NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series standings with 240 points. He holds an eight-point advantage over Joey Gase, who sits 30th. With two races remaining, Smithley will attempt to preserve that position and finish the season with stronger results.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Garrett Smithley's race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Talladega
