Opinion

Martinsville NASCAR Xfinity race ends in punch up

Roar Rookie

9th April, 2022

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James McDougall

Roar Rookie

9th April, 2022

Short fuses on a short track reigned supreme in the NASCAR Xfinity series on the weekend, with Ty Gibbs and Sam Mayer getting into it after the race.

Gibbs started on the pole alongside Justin Allgaier for a 250-lap race, which was extended to 261 laps after multiple overtime restarts.

Ty Gibbs and Brandon Jones won both stages, with contenders Daniel Hemric and Josh Berry having troubles.

On the first overtime restart, AJ Allmendinger got into the back of Sam Mayer, who got into Noah Gragson, and half the field piled up going into Turn 1.

About 14 cars were involved in the pile-up, with the track eventually becoming blocked.

Gibbs would lead the field back to the restart in his #54 Toyota, with Brandon Jones restarting alongside him.

Jones was able to pass Gibbs on the final lap to take the victory, while Sam Mayer and Gibbs made contact off the final corner while coming to the checkered flag.

Gibbs crashed his Toyota into the back of Mayer’s Chevrolet on pit road, and the two exchanged words after the race, before exchanging a few punches.

The fight was quickly broken up by NASCAR officials, and both drivers will be looking ahead to the next Xfinity race at Talladega.

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