Sammy Smith Stripped of 5th Place in Charlotte Xfinity Race

Sammy Smith lost his fifth-place finish in the Charlotte Xfinity race after a post-race inspection revealed his No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet did not meet minimum weight requirements.

Smith, who originally crossed the line in fifth, was officially scored 38th in the final standings.

William Byron held off Justin Allgaier for the win, and Byron’s No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet passed inspection.

The penalty for Smith caused a major shakeup inside the top ten, with Dean Thompson being awarded his career-first top five in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Josh Williams moved to sixth place, matching his own best result, and Austin Hill, Ryan Ellis, Christian Eckes, and Sheldon Creed rounded out the new top ten.

Ellis was happy to have earned his first top ten in 144 career starts, and after the penalty, he gained an additional position.

The disqualification was especially costly for Smith in the season points.

He was set to leave Charlotte ranked eighth in the standings but instead dropped to 13th after losing the points earned from his top-five finish.

The No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet, driven by Nick Sanchez, the No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota of Dean Thompson, and the No. 39 RSS Racing Chevrolet of Ryan Sieg are all being sent to the NASCAR R&D Center for additional inspection.

NASCAR also reported a single loose lug nut on the No. 00 Haas Factory Team Ford.

Stat tracker Seth Eggert shared that this season has already seen more disqualifications across the three national NASCAR divisions than any year in history.

There have been eight DQs so far, showing how closely officials are monitoring post-race compliance.

Disqualifications like Smith’s can hurt both team strategies and a driver’s season-long hopes, especially as playoff spots and championship points are often decided by only a few points.

Smith’s setback gave new opportunities to several other drivers.

For Thompson, the top-five result is an important boost, offering momentum and confidence in upcoming events.

Williams’s advancement to sixth equals his best result and could be a turning point for his season as well.

Ryan Ellis’s new eighth place is a highlight he’ll remember after a long wait for a top-ten finish.

Byron’s win under tough, late-race conditions highlights the competitive nature of the Charlotte Xfinity event.

The move for the lead as the field took the white flag was decisive, helping the Hendrick Motorsports driver secure the victory after overtime.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series continues to deliver unpredictable moments and dramatic post-race developments.

The next races will reflect these updated standings and provide further chances for teams and drivers to respond, with eyes now on compliance just as much as speed on track.