Sammy Smith disqualified for failing to meet NASCAR minimum weight after BetMGM 300

Following the BetMGM 300 on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Sammy Smith has been disqualified for failing to meet minimum weight in a post-race inspection. He had finished fifth in the race.

FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass also reports that three other cars were set to go to R&D: Nicholas Sanchez, Dean Thompson and Ryan Sieg. Additionally, Sheldon Creed‘s car had a loose or missing lug nut, something which will draw a fine during the week.

The NASCAR race itself was hotly contested at the finish, after a slew of late cautions came out in the final 25 laps of the race. Smith had as good a shot to win as anyone.

William Byron, who ultimately would win the race, would put together a dominant first two stages. He took both stage wins and looked to be set to cruise to the win. Then he picked up a speeding penalty on pit road and it opened things back up, leading to the chaotic finish.

William Byron takes home NASCAR Xfinity Series win

When Byron got the penalty, it was Justin Allgaier’s race to lose. Then, Allgaier didn’t pit late in the race when he should have. So, it put drivers like Connor Zilisch into a strong position to win.

Restart after restart to finish this race, Byron kept moving forward. In overtime, it was Byron who got out into clean air first and drove away from Zilisch to win.

Jeb Burton and Brennan Poole got into a violent wreck on the last lap of the NASCAR event. The caution came out right before Byron crossed the start-finish line. Burton’s car ended up on fire after rolling onto pit road.

William Byron was very happy with the win. This is a race that he has wanted to win for a while. Of course, getting a Coke 600 trophy is the main goal this weekend. Byron also gets his first NASCAR national series win since the Daytona 500.

As for Justin Allgaier, he goes home in heartbreak. 103 laps led and one mental mistake to not pit late cost him the win. If he were on equal tires with Byron, I’m not sure that he loses this race. He was just that good up front today in clean air.

Of course, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch has to be wondering what the heck he could have done to win this race. It is different racing against these veterans of the sport and especially against someone as talented and accomplished as Byron.

On3’s Jonathan Howard also contributed to this report.