Points leader Regan Smith scored his second NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of the season Saturday, holding off Kyle Larson in the closing laps to win the Alliance Truck Parts 250 at Michigan International Speedway.
Smith took the lead with 13 to go when Parker Kligerman was forced to pit road for fuel, and was able to keep a hard-charging Larson at bay. Paul Menard finished third followed by Kyle Busch and Trevor Bayne.
"This one's for him," Smith said. "I want to say that all of our hearts are with the Leffler family and we're going to donate a lot of our winnings to the Charlie Dean Leffler fund."
Pole-sitter Austin Dillon dominated the first half of the race but a cut tire just past the halfway mark put him a lap down. Dillon ended up finishing two laps down in 20th after slamming the wall late in the race.
Sam Hornish Jr. also had issues Saturday when he suffered engine problems on lap 81. Hornish Jr. still sits second in the championship standings, but now trails Smith by 58 points.
Great job @ReganSmith on the win! @BradSweet49 @GREATracing top ten as well. @JRMotorsports was on it in Michigan!
— Kasey Kahne (@kaseykahne) June 15, 2013
Great run @KyleLarsonRacin and congrats to @ReganSmith. That was a great race to watch today.
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) June 15, 2013
In Victory Lane @MISpeedway, @ReganSmith climbs out and celebrates his #ATP250 win! #FueledBySunoco https://t.co/gJ5KFJPvDO
— Sunoco Racing (@SunocoRacing) June 15, 2013
Winner's trophy @MISpeedway. This will make a great paperweight in my office @JRMotorsports pic.twitter.com/2Uxfa1niID
— Mike Hoag (@MikeHoag88) June 15, 2013
