Sammy Smith was given the win after Jesse Love’s No. 2 Chevrolet failed post-race inspection.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Sammy Smith will retain his win from the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway after an appeal from Richard Childress Racing was denied.
Jesse Love’s No. 2 Chevrolet was disqualified after he won the NC Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham on Saturday. NASCAR said that Love violated a rule regarding the mating surfaces between the truck trailing arm and the U-bolt saddle.
Richard Childress Racing appealed the disqualification after the penalty was announced. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel announced on Wednesday that Love’s car more than likely violated the rule and upheld the ruling. The board was unable to determine if the violation was done intentionally.
Smith, who drives the No. 8 for JR Motorsports, was granted the win after Love’s disqualification.
“RCR is disappointed in NASCAR’s decision today to uphold the disqualification of the No. 2 team,” the team said in a statement. “We will focus our efforts on moving forward and being competitive at Talladega this weekend.”
Love led 53 laps in Saturday’s race, which was the first NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham since 2004.Β
Love is ranked fourth in series standings. He has one race win this year, which virtually locks him into the NASCAR playoffs later this season. Smith is eighth in the standings. The Rockingham win was his first of the season.
NASCAR returned to Rockingham with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series races last weekend. Tyler Ankrum won the truck series race. The NASCAR Cup Series has not raced at the Richmond County track since 2004.Β