Motorsport photo
Sammy Smith driving into the final corner at Martinsville from several car lengths back in order to intentionally wreck Taylor Gray for the NASCAR Xfinity Series win didn’t work out for him, Gray or the rest of the field [besides race winner Austin Hill]. It turns out the chaos Smith’s driving has backfired on the driver of the No. 8 car for JR Motorsports.
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There have been calls by various NASCAR veterans for series officials to take action against Smith with Denny Hamlin — who won Sunday’s Cup race — being one of the more outspoken voices. And the sanctioning body seemed to have heard them, as they decided to fine Smith $25,000. But more importantly, NASCAR docked the JR Motorsports driver 50 points. The loss of points drops him from sixth to 13th in the championship standings.
Sammy Smith, JR Motorsprots Chevrolet
Sammy Smith, JR Motorsprots ChevroletLogan Riely / Getty Images
Logan Riely / Getty Images
Interestingly, NASCAR also fined both Gray and Jeb Burton $5,000 for violating the member code of conduct at the infield care center. Gray got into a heated confrontation with Smith outside the care center while Burton went there after the race to confront Daniel Dye.
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As for if this is a good enough to deter future situations like this, it’s possible. Between Smith’s penalty and Austin Dillon being removed from the playoffs for wrecking his way to the Richmond Cup win last year, drivers will certainly think twice before running over the competition. However, the points penalty will only prove costly if he fails to win a race during the regular season. Should Smith go out and win before the playoffs, his place in the regular season standings will matter very little in the whole scheme of things.
Watch: Taylor Gray, Sammy Smith exchange words after last-lap contact
Loose wheel penalty
Beyond Smith, NASCAR issued expected suspensions for the loose wheel that came off of Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. The wheel fell off on the race track, forcing a caution flag during green-flag pit stops. As a result, jackman Aslan Pugh and rear tire changer Jonpatrik Kealey have been suspended for the next two races — forced to sit out both Darlington and Bristol.
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Some lesser penalties from the weekend include a $5,000 fine for the No. 00 Haas Factory Team Ford due to unsecured lug nut(s) after the Xfinity race and a $2,500 fine for the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet after the Truck race.
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
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Read Also:
Checkers or wreckers: When NASCAR drivers take ‘win or bust’ too far
Denny Hamlin calls on NASCAR to act after “horrible driving” in Xfinity race
Sammy Smith: “It’s what you got to do” after wrecking Taylor Gray on final lap
Anger, dismay from NASCAR veterans as fallout from Martinsville Xfinity race continues
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