Sammy Smith: "It's what you got to do" after wrecking Taylor Gray on final lap

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Taylor Gray was attempting to win for the first time in his NASCAR Xfinity Series career, while Sammy Smith was aiming to deny him on Saturday night. Through a series of restarts and a red flag, as the race became a crash fest, tensions mounted between the two leaders.

With only a few laps remaining, Smith ended up moving Gray, snatching the top spot away just before the race was pushed into overtime for a final sprint to the finish. Gray chose to give up the outside lane in order to start behind Smith for that pivotal restart. He quickly returned the favor, moving Smith out of the way and reclaiming the race lead and taking the white flag out front.

It looked like Gray was set to secure his first career win until Smith drove shockingly deep into the final corner from several car lengths back.

He slammed into the back of Gray, spinning him out. However, Smith did not go on to win the race as he wrecked in the ensuing chaos, taking several cars with him as he crashed across the finish line.

Watch: Taylor Gray, Sammy Smith exchange words after last-lap contact

Austin Hill won the race while Smith finished tenth and Gray was 29th. The two drivers then engaged in a heated debate outside the infield care center with security keeping the two separated so it didn’t escalate into a physical confrontation.

“He’s got no respect”

Smith didn’t deny the egregious nature of the move, but he had little sympathy for Gray, indicating that this rivalry is far from over.

“I mean, absolutely it was egregious,” said Smith regarding the move. “I’m not proud of that but roles reversed, he would have done the same thing. He’s got no respect for me. I didn’t move him on the first few restarts, but he was flipping me off under the red flag, swerving at me. It’s definitely uncalled for and I’m not proud of it, but he would have done the exact same thing, and that’s what I told him. We’ll see what happens … It’s unfortunate. If you’re not the one doing it, someone is going to do it to you. Everyone is going to dog on me and I’m not proud of that, but at the end of the day, it’s what you got to do.”

Asked if Gray deserved it, Smith added: “Yeah. I would say we have a little bit of a past. He has no respect for me. And then with flipping me off under the red flag, that right there was the line for me. Maybe he’ll find some more respect and I’m sure w’ell go at it a couple more times, but you know I’m not afraid to.”

Watch: Sammy Smith ‘not proud’ of contact with Taylor Gray

Gray had far fewer words to say as he walked back to the garage area. It’s a familiar place for him to be, walking disappointed down the pit lane at Martinsville. Just a few months ago, he was shoved from the leading position in a pivotal race during the 2024 Truck Series playoffs, costing him the win and a shot at the Championship 4.

“It sucks, right?” he told The CW as they walked with him. “We had the best car all day. I can’t thank everyone from Joe Gibbs Racing enough … just unfortunate. It’s the same story I’ve lived here for two Martinsvilles in a row. It sucks, but it is what it is. Long year.”

Logan Riely / Getty Images

Austin Hill, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Logan Riely / Getty Images

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Sammy Smith: “It’s what you got to do” after wrecking Taylor Gray on final lap

“He’s got no respect”

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