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NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Taylor Gray Claiming IAA And Ritchie Bros. 250 At Martinsville Speedway

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Taylor Gray Claiming IAA And Ritchie Bros. 250 At Martinsville Speedway

Some NASCAR Xfinity Series fans could have thought they were watching a replay. 

In the spring race at Martinsville Speedway, Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith ran 1-2 and Smith bumped Gray along the final corner. The two drivers engaged in a post-race confrontation. 

There were no extra-curricular activities Saturday night as Gray and Smith again ran 1-2 on the final lap of the Xfinity 500. Gray, a non-playoff driver, escaped the repeat scenario and claimed his first career victory. Smith placed P2, but missed out advancing to the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 1. 

Brandon Jones (P3) and Sheldon Creed (P4) were also eliminated during the Round of 8 finale. 

The final four features Justin Allgaier, rookie Carson Kvapil, Jesse Love and regular-season champion Connor Zilisch, Jesse Love. 

X (Twitter) users responded to the Championship 4 qualifiers…

In a pre-race announcement, Joe Gibbs Racing ruled out William Sawalich (concussion systems). The rookie was replaced by Justin Bonsignore, who qualified 14 and finished P10 in the No. 18 Toyota …

Going green at Martinsville …

Aric Almirola made the first big move …

The Round of 8 finale’s first caution …

Love, who entered Saturday 40 points above the cutoff line, endured an early, costly mental mistake …

Is Connor Mosack still adjusting to his new ride? …

Justin Allgaier claimed Stage 1 …

More trouble for the No. 2 Chevrolet team. The playoff cushion was getting smaller for Love. By Lap 216, Love ran P32, nine points ahead of Brandon Jones. Love survived the cut …

Kvapil, who entered plus-11 points, earned important Stage 2 playoff points …

Taking a moment for a special cause to a special honorary crew member for Smith’s No. 8 Chevrolet team …

Parker Retzlaff and Brad Perez spun out along Turn 2, bringing out a caution period on Lap 219 …

Daniel Dye’s car trouble forced overtime. Free racing for all …

The finish …

Gray’s first victory burnout …

Post-race words of affection? Will they finish the talk at Phoenix? …

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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