In a surprising disclosure, Xfinity driver Taylor Gray has put an end to the rumors of a simmering feud between him and JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith, after the latter intentionally wrecked him at Martinsville.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver made it clear he’s not looking to exact revenge on Smith at the upcoming race at Darlington—or any other race—simply out of respect for Dale Earnhardt Jr., the owner of JR Motorsports.
Taylor Gray Holds Respect for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Above Revenge
Speaking about the controversial incident on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Gray said, “I have too much respect for [JRM] to start wrecking their cars just to prove a point. If Sammy owned and worked on his own car, then I would probably be telling you a different story.”
Asked on @SiriusXMNASCAR if his beef with Sammy Smith is over, Taylor Gray says:
“I have too much respect for [JRM] to start wrecking their cars just to prove a point. If Sammy owned and worked on his own car, then I would probably be telling you a different story.”#NASCAR
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) April 3, 2025
With the 20-year-old Gray choosing to take the high road, NASCAR fans have praised him for showing more maturity than some seasoned drivers. Gray also understands the value of the car and the extra costs that come with unnecessary damage. This is his first full season in NASCAR after competing in just 13 races last year.
Fans took to social media to show their support and respect for the young driver’s wise decision. One fan shared, “And that is very well said. Much respect to Taylor Gray.”
Another fan replied, “What an amazing response. Dale has to feel great that an outsider has more respect for him than his very own driver…”
“For a nepo baby, he seems to really understand the importance of his crew members and the amount of work they do around the shop. That’s a really admirable thing that definitely gives him some brownie points,” added another user.
Although Gray appears ready to move on, he did express disappointment after the incident. In a post-race interview via NASCAR.com, he said, “I was a little upset when he first hit me, just because I felt like I haven’t put a scratch on him all year. He could have raced me a little bit better.”
Even though Gray has decided to let it go, NASCAR didn’t. The sanctioning body handed Smith a $25,000 fine and docked him 50 points.
Gray and Smith will both be back on track this Saturday for the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway. After an emotionally charged race at Martinsville, NASCAR will be looking forward to some cleaner racing this weekend.
