Austin Hill picked up his second win of the 2025 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway, but it came with some controversy at the end.
The race went to overtime, and by two laps Sammy Smith jumped out front and fought for Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray for the top place. Hill was outside the top five. As the drivers walked towards behind, a few cars entered the wall, but no yellow flag was waved.
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NASCAR XFINITY SERIES -driver Austin Hill celebrates his victory under the Marine Corp 250 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, March 29, 2025. (Jim Dedmon-Preferred Pictures)
Gray took the lead when he went into the last turn, but had Justin Allgai on his bumper. It looked like the race would come down to Gray, Smith and Allgaier, but in the last turn, driving became more aggressive.
Smith threw into the back of Gray in the last turn and moved him up the field and out of first place. Jones then entered the back of Gray, and Allgaier tried to move up the track first. But their cars also slipped up the track, and it was Hill who sneaked into the inside with a little push from Sheldon Creed to pick up the victory.
A massive wreck occurred when the cars crossed the start-finish line.
No one seemed to be happy with how the race was done. The NASCAR CUP series Star Denny Hamlin let his thoughts be known with hours to walk before his race in Martinsville began.
Austin Hill after his victory under Marine Corp 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025. (Jim Dedmon-Preferred Pictures)
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“Absolute waste,” he wrote on X. “God I wish I was in the booth. ID was fired, but I cursed would certainly call out these idiots.”
Gray told CW Sports he felt he had “the best car all day.”
“It’s unfortunate. It’s the same story I’ve lived here for two years, for two Martinsville (running) in a row,” he said. “It stinks, but that’s what it is.”
The athletic caught a confrontation between Smith and Gray outside the Infield Care Center. Harrison Burton also confronted Smith.
Smith talked about the last laps with journalists.
“I know everyone wants to be mad and disturbed over me and say I’m a dirty driver, but I don’t care because everyone does,” he said via Fox Sports. “And if I just had to accept it and finish number two today, then it just wouldn’t sit well with me.”
Taylor Gray takes the lead late under Marine Corp 250 at Martinsville Speedway, March 29, 2025. (Jim Dedmon-Preferred Pictures)
Darlington Raceway is next on the XFinity Series plan. Allgaier still has the point the lead with Sam Mayer on second and hill in third place. Creed is at the fourth and Jesse Love is on the fifth.
