Regan Smith, driver of the #7 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Alliance Truck Parts 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 15, 2013
Photo – John Harrelson/Getty Images

Dicing through the pack toward the end of Saturday afternoon’s Nationwide Series Race at Michigan allowed Regan Smith to take the lead after Parker Kligerman had to pit. Kligerman played the rain game, but failed and that left a golden opportunity for Smith. This is win number two for Smith on the season and increases his point lead to much more than a full-race. It all came together for Smith and allowing him to leave the track in a better place than he entered on Saturday. 

The action didn’t take long to get started. Lap one features a multi-car wreck in turns three and four. Alex Bowman was loose underneath Brian Scott and Bowman spun forcing other cars trying to avoid contact. Brian Vickers tried to go low, but that left him spinning through the grass and tearing up the nose of his car. In a separate incident behind the Bowman spin, Travis Pastrana spun out on his own and Jeffery Earnhardt nailed the side of his car. A wild start to the race would only get crazier as the number of laps began to rise.

A hard impact with the turn four wall by Dexter Stacey brought out the second yellow-flag of the race. Things calmed down a bit after the two quick cautions and Austin Dillon cruised out in front of the pack. Dillon lost the lead for the first time on lap 69 when Joey Logano took over the top spot. Dillon’s day would only go downhill from there as on lap 70, he had to pit for a flat tire.

With rain threatening the area during the entire race, teams were trying to play the rain and strategy game. Joey Logano didn’t pit during the fourth caution, but when the rain didn’t come between then and the fifth caution, he had to make a trip down pit road.

Parker Kligerman found himself out front after the fifth caution, but had to pit again before the end of the race. He made the turn down pit road with 14 laps remaining and handed the lead over to Regan Smith. Smith had a hungry Kyle Larson trailing him, but was able to keep the young sensation in–check for the remaining laps.

Smith crossed the line first for the second time this season making this his third win in the 14 races entered by JR Motorsports. The second place driver in the points, Sam Hornish Jr, had engine issues during the race, meaning this win for Smith gained him lots of points in the standings. The day couldn’t have been more perfect for Smith and he’ll head into Road America on a high note.

A day that was probably one of the most exciting the Nationwide Series has seen this season, left Regan Smith in victory lane. It wasn’t a complete domination by Smith, but he made the right moves at the right time and that was the key to victory.

Results via ESPN.com