Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray react after NASCAR makes dramatic decision on Roval Playoff elimination

Following the finish to tonight’s Xfinity Series Playoff race at the Roval, Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray were left waiting around. NASCAR had to go back to the tape to determine the finishing order, and that meant waiting to see who was eliminated.

In the end, Sammy Smith advanced by +1 point, or two positions. Smith would have won the tiebreaker by virtue of having the highest finishing position in the round between the two drivers (P4 at Kansas).

So, after the decision was final, the two drivers were able to speak to the CW broadcast about the moment. It was not easy for either driver to stand around and wait. It felt a lot like Martinsville in the Cup Series last season with Christopher Bell and William Byron, but neither driver did anything wrong in this case.

“I mean, yeah, it was a hard-fought day for sure. We brought speed. I’m very proud of our effort that we put in this week to be able to put ourselves in this position,” Sammy Smith said. “We knew it was going to take a lot. I’m very proud of everyone at JRM, everyone on my team. Phil made a great call to pit. Obviously, it was a Hail Mary move and it worked. … I appreciate Mosack letting me in there on that Turn 1 deal just so I could make something happen. I was able to do that, and really, I’m just excited to go race for another championship here and put ourselves in a position we can make the final four.”

Taylor Gray was on the other end of this equation. Before overtime, Gray was going to advance. Then, in a matter of two laps, everything slipped out of his hands. Brutal way to lose this last transfer spot.

“Just obviously bummed out right? Don’t get to go race for a championship at the end of the year,” Gray said. “We just weren’t good enough. We weren’t good enough today, we didn’t have a good Bristol, and you know, we should even have to be in this spot. But we are, and we’re going to take our loss and move on to the next four and try to go win us a couple of races.”

Remember back to Martinsville? Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray had a moment there earlier this season. In fact, Smith wrecked Gray and his chance of winning the race. Those five playoff points for winning that race would have made the difference for Gray tonight, all things being equal the rest of the season.

Instead, Gray is going home, and Smith is advancing. One point, two positions on track to break any potential tie. That was all the difference. Gray just couldn’t get it done in overtime. It was too chaotic and too messy to navigate. In the end, he was on the wrong side of a caution.

This is what the NASCAR Playoffs delivers. Then again, I’d kinda like to be talking about Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier and their great seasons. Those two continued to be great tonight. Zilisch won his 10th race of the season, and wasn’t even a story because of the playoff action on the cutline. Allgaier had a very solid race as well.

Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray delivered great drama earlier this season. That drama just came back around like a proverbial boomerang. Unfortunately for Gray, he couldn’t see it coming back months later. Ultimately, it cost him the spot in the Round of 8.