You know a race has gone off the rails when even NASCAR itself brands it a “disaster.” Those were the words of Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior VP of Competition, after the recent Xfinity Series race at Martinsville—a race that spiraled into chaos with 14 cautions, including a staggering nine in the final 100 laps. But the real firestorm erupted after Sammy Smith wrecked Taylor Gray on the last turn, snatching away what could have been Gray’s first Xfinity Series win. The backlash has been relentless, with insiders taking shots at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s driver, calling his actions an “all-for-nothing moment.” And truthfully, they may have a point.
Yes, it’s frustrating for Taylor Gray, but incidents like these are nothing new in NASCAR, and they won’t be the last. However, accountability matters, and many argue that NASCAR needs to set a precedent. The reason this moment has sparked so much outrage is simple—nothing meaningful came from it. Instead, it left half the field wrecked, and despite causing the chaos, Sammy Smith only finished in 10th place. Was it worth it? Looking back at the race sequence might provide some perspective.
Sammy Smith Didn’t Even Win!
The drama unfolded on the final restart of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville. Smith had the lead, with Gray right behind him. As the white flag approached, Gray seized an opportunity, diving to the inside and surging past Smith. But Smith wasn’t ready to give up his position. From several car lengths back, he launched into Gray’s rear bumper, spinning the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and triggering a massive wreck behind them. In the end, Austin Hill capitalized on the mayhem and took the checkered flag.
When asked about his aggressive move, Smith bluntly responded, “It’s what you got to do.” However, the fact that he didn’t even win left many unimpressed. Motorsport journalist Brad Gillie put it bluntly on PRNlive: “I’d have more respect if he had won. And I don’t really have any for it… if you’re going to do something like that, at least get a trophy.” It’s a fair criticism.
Aggressive racing is a hallmark of NASCAR, and had Smith won, his playoff berth might have been revoked—but at least he would have walked away with a victory. Both he and Gray were contenders all day, running in the top ten, but this wasn’t the way to seal a win. The situation draws comparisons to last year’s Richmond race, where Austin Dillon aggressively wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin but at least went on to claim the win. The difference? Dillon finished what he started, while Smith’s move backfired spectacularly.
NASCAR’s Plan to Fix the Xfinity Series
The uproar over Martinsville isn’t just about Smith and Gray—it reflects a larger issue within the Xfinity Series. Similar chaos unfolded at Homestead, where Kyle Larson had victory in sight before Sam Mayer wrecked him on the final restart. Drivers in this series seem to struggle with keeping their composure when it matters most.
In response, NASCAR has hit Sammy Smith with a $25,000 fine and docked him 50 points, dropping him from 6th to 13th in the standings. However, many believe a suspension would have been a more fitting punishment. Sawyer acknowledged Smith’s talent but emphasized the need for learning moments. “Historically, we’ve tried to stay with points and money on a situation like that… Sammy is a prime example of a young man that’s got a great deal of talent. Obviously made some mistakes at the end of that race that he’s going to have to learn from.”
To address the issue head-on, NASCAR plans to meet with Xfinity drivers ahead of the upcoming Darlington race to reinforce expectations. Sawyer elaborated, saying, “We’ve been built on pushing and shoving… NASCAR is a contact sport. But there’s a way to do it while earning the respect of fellow competitors.”
Let’s hope this leads to cleaner racing and finishes that fans can actually celebrate.
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