Jesse Love disqualified, Sammy Smith wins Rockingham in stunning twist

A chaotic NASCAR Xfinity race is not achieved delivering surprising moments, even a number of hours after the occasion ended. Jesse Love captured the checkered flag in his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, however he’ll have to offer each that flag and the winner’s trophy again.

The RCR driver’s automobile failed post-race inspection after a difficulty was discovered involving the rear suspension. In consequence, Love has been stripped of the race win and disqualified. He will probably be credited with a thirty seventh place end. NASCAR supplied the next rationalization for the disqualification: “All mating surfaces between the truck trailing arm and the U-bolt saddle have to be in full contact with one another.”

JR Motorsports driver Sammy Smith, who was handed by Love for the lead on the ultimate time beyond regulation restart, will inherit the race win. That is now the third win of Smith’s younger profession and his first of the 2025 season. Parker Retzlaff has been promoted to a career-best end of second, Harrison Burton third, Brennan Poole fourth, and Taylor Grey fifth.

That is additionally the second time this 12 months a race winner on the nationwide degree has been disqualified following inspection points. Parker Kligerman initially received the NASCAR Truck Sequence season-opener at Daytona, however was later stripped of the victory after failing post-race tech. Corey Heim inherited the win in that scenario.

Justin Bonsignore, who fell out of Saturday’s Xfinity race in an accident on Lap 157, was additionally disqualified after NASCAR discovered a number of free lug nuts on the automobile in what is taken into account a security subject. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver initially completed thirty sixth, however will now be scored in thirty eighth (final).

Pictures from Rockingham – Race