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NXS Race Recap: Sammy Smith wins wild return to Rockingham Speed after Jesse Love’s DQ
April 20, 2025
Sammy Smith wins wild return to Rockingham Speed after Jesse Love’s DQ
April 19, 2025
By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
ROCKINGHAM, N.C.—Long after the checkered flag waved in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ long-awaited return to Rockingham Speedway, Sammy Smith’s fortunes improved dramatically.
Smith was awarded the victory in the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 after the No. 2 Chevrolet of ostensible race winner Jesse Love was deemed to have violated Rule 14.14.2.I-5.h which covers trailing arm spacers and pinion angle shims.
“All mating surfaces of those parts need to be in complete contact with each other, and unfortunately they violated that rule and were disqualified,” said series director Eric Peterson.
The disqualification of Love’s car gave Smith his first victory of the season and the third of his career, as well as a $100,000 bonus as the winner of the final Xfinity Dash 4 Cash race of the season.
“It’s a tough way to win that, but I feel like we’ll take ‘em any way we can get ‘em,” Smith said after learning of Love’s disqualification. “We waited here to see what happens, but overall, it was a good day, and I’m very happy with the progress we’ve made recently.
“I’m kind of speechless, to be honest with you.”
After Love climbed from his car at the finish line, the No. 2 Camaro rolled away from him down the banking and into the infield grass. Perhaps that was an omen of problems to come.
Love had just done a celebratory burnout after a magnificent restart in overtime propelled him to the apparent victory. He finished 0.691m seconds ahead of Smith, but the margin was negated by the infraction, and the win went to the driver of the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
Before the infraction was discovered, Love was ecstatic to win at “The Rock.”
“Oh, my gosh, these fans are amazing,” said Love, who was all but drowned out by the cheers from the onlookers, who celebrated the return of the Xfinity Series to Rockingham for the first time since 2004. “What an amazing race track. Man, this race track’s right in my alley. It’s hammer down—you’ve got to be in the gas good today.
“I had such an incredible car… (On the final restart) I don’t know if I hit him (Smith) or if he stumbled… I had to get it done—we had too good of a piece.”
Unfortunately, the fastest car on Saturday couldn’t pass post-race inspection.
Next Race: April 26, 2025 – Talladega Superspeedway
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