Note: The article has been updated after NASCAR disqualified Sam Mayer
Sammy Smith has won for the first time since joining JR Motorsports, and he chose the perfect time to do so.
Smith entered the Talladega weekend last in the playoff standings, but he took care of business during a caution-filled final stage. He avoided the two multi-car crashes that collected other playoff drivers and then he held off a hard-charging Ryan Sieg in the tri-oval to lock up a spot in the Round of 8.
MORE: Sammy Smith wins, full results
Sieg finished second while Riley Herbst crossed the line third. Sheldon Creed finished fourth while crashing across the finish line. Chandler Smith rounded out the top five.
.@sammysmithSS holds them off to win it! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/FjjXPG05VR
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 5, 2024
A huge crash unfolded with three laps remaining in the race. Carson Kvapil got turned left crossing the start-finish line. He tagged Leland Honeyman Jr. and then spun into the outside line of cars.
This incident collected Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Parker Kligerman, Brandon Jones, AJ Allmendinger, Parker Retzlaff, Dylan Lupton, Anthony Alfredo, Jesse Love, and Blaine Perkins.
THE BIG ONE STRIKES WITH 3 LAPS TO GO!
A push from Brandon Jones to his teammate Carson Kvapil sends the No. 88 sideways to start a massive crash that collects numerous #NASCARPlayoffs drivers.
Allgaier, Kligerman, Love, Allmendinger also sustain heavy damage.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/J6PPdnAlfL
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) October 5, 2024
This wreck brought out the red flag as track crews worked on clearing the destroyed stock cars. Once the track was ready, the field lined up for the final restart with Smith and Herbst on the front row.
While Herbst fell through the field while trying to work with Chevrolet and Toyota drivers, Smith just stuck in the bottom lane.
He had strong help from Ryan Sieg, who just kept pushing him over the final two laps. This strategy paid off for both drivers as they crossed the line first and second.
Playoff damage: The big one that brought out the red flag was not the only incident that collected playoff drivers. Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill were both involved in a multi-car incident on Lap 75.
SVG could not continue in the race as he finished 36th. Hill's team made as many repairs as possible in the time allowed by the DVP clock. He continued in the race but remained outside the top 30 as the laps clicked down. Hill ultimately finished 24th.
Trouble in the tri-oval!
The Nos. 97 and 21 are among those collected. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/VTjeyPkryf
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 5, 2024
Stage 1: Chandler Smith won stage 1. AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Anthony Alfredo, Taylor Gray, Cole Custer, Dean Thompson, and Sammy Smith were all inside the top 10.
Parker Kligerman in 11th, Riley Herbst in 12th, Jesse Love in 14th, and Shane van Gisbergen in 22nd were the playoff drivers who missed out on points.
Stage 2: Hill won stage 2. Smith, Love, van Gisbergen, Chandler Smith, Herbst, Allmendinger, Creed, Custer, and Brandon Jones were top 10.
Allgaier in 13th and Kligerman in 20th were the playoff drivers who missed out on stage points.
Next: The opening round of the Xfinity Series playoffs ends Saturday, Oct. 12, with a race at the Charlotte Roval. Four drivers will be eliminated from championship contention after the road course race.