Motorsport photo
Though Denny Hamlin won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville in dominant fashion, leading 274 of 400 laps, with a clean 75-lap run to the finish — the Xfinity race was a very different story. With just 100 laps to go, the drivers managed to earn nine cautions, all culminating in a last-lap melee at the front of the field. Sammy Smith came from several car lengths back, intentionally wrecking Taylor Gray for the win. He hit him so hard, it buckled the nose of his car in the process. Smith ended up wrecking as well, taking several cars with him.
Advertisement
Hamlin, with everyone’s attention in the winner’s press conference after collecting the 55th checkered flag of his Cup career the following day, took the moment to comment on the chaotic Xfinity finish, which he was already outspoken on social media about, calling it “absolute garbage” and noting how if he was in the booth, “I’d get fired but I damn sure would call these idiots out.”
Penalties needed?
After Sunday’s Cup race, Hamlin expressed a desire to see NASCAR put their foot down or risk this becoming a more frequent occurrence.
“Yeah, certainly I think the sanctioning body needs to get involved a little bit and step in on egregious things,” said Hamlin. “I think it’s continued to ramp up, right? We’ve seen this stuff. It used to only happen on green-white-checkereds. Then this place, it seemed like inside 20 to go people would lose their minds. Those guys yesterday did it with 50 to go, absolutely just creaming each other. It was just horrible driving by most of the people out there. It’s just not a good look.
Austin Hill makes inside maneuver, wins chaotic overtime Martinsville finish
Austin Hill makes inside maneuver, wins chaotic overtime Martinsville finishLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Advertisement
“I’m tired of hearing these guys say, ‘Well, they would have done it to me.’ That doesn’t fly anymore,” said Hamlin. He specifically called out Sammy Smith, but also Austin Hill and Sam Mayer for some questionable moves during the race.
It’s unclear if NASCAR will actually penalize Smith, but they did set a precedent last summer by penalizing Austin Dillon for a similar move at Richmond. The difference is that Dillon actually won the race. He got to keep the victory, but was removed from the playoffs. For Smith, he lost out as well in all this so if NASCAR wanted to send a message, a points penalty and/or fine is the most likely path they would take.
Photos from Martinsville – Race
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
JGR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Joe Gibbs
JGR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Joe GibbsLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Famers Team Wood Brothers Racing co-founder, Leonard Wood and RCR team owner, Richard Childress
NASCAR Hall of Famers Team Wood Brothers Racing co-founder, Leonard Wood and RCR team owner, Richard ChildressLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
General view
General viewLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports FordLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Read Also:
Anger, dismay from NASCAR veterans as fallout from Martinsville Xfinity race continues
Sammy Smith: “It’s what you got to do” after wrecking Taylor Gray on final lap
Read the full article here
