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5mo ago

NASCAR to Address Aggressive Driving After Martinsville Chaos

Following penalties for Sammy Smith and others, NASCAR plans a drivers-only meeting at Darlington to curb reckless behavior and restore sportsmanship.

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DEWALT Outdoors Toyota, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia.
Sammy Smith, driver of the #8 Pilot Chevrolet, and Jeb Burton, driver of the #27 Celsius Chevrolet, spin after an on-track incident under caution to end the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia.
Sammy Smith, driver of the #8 Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Hard Rock Bet 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 22, 2025 in Homestead, Florida.
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Overview

  • Sammy Smith received a 50-point deduction and a $25,000 fine for causing a last-lap crash at the Martinsville Xfinity Series race.
  • Taylor Gray and Jeb Burton were fined $5,000 each for post-race conduct at the infield care center after confronting Smith.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. defended Smith and declined to suspend him, fueling debate over team accountability in disciplining drivers.
  • NASCAR announced a drivers-only meeting at Darlington to address aggressive driving and reinforce standards for clean competition.
  • The Martinsville race, marked by 14 cautions and over 100 laps under yellow, has intensified scrutiny of NASCAR's penalty system and driver respect on the track.