NASCAR
Officials Determined Sheldon Creed Purposely Wrecked Sammy Smith
NASCAR has handed out a 25-point penalty and a $25,000 fine to Sheldon Creed. Officials deemed that Creed intentionally wrecked Sammy Smith in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race from Nashville Superspeedway. After intense post-race scrutiny, NASCAR says they made this judgement after hearing incriminating audio from Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 crew.
“Following Saturday’s race at Nashville Superspeedway, NASCAR reviewed radio communications from the No. 2 team,” NASCAR said in a statement on Tuesday. “In NASCAR’s determination, that communication clearly resulted in the No. 2 car wrecking the No. 18 car on lap 69, causing the seventh caution of the race.”
Creed’s infraction falls under NASCAR Rule Book Section 4.4.B. These guidelines refer to:
- “Attempting to manipulate the outcome of the Race or championship.”
- “Wrecking or spinning another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result.”
Creed made contact with Sammy Smith’s Toyota in turn one on lap 69, sending the No. 18 hard into the outside wall. Smith’s day ended here in 34th-place, while Creed continued and finished 17th.
The loss of 25 points takes Creed from seventh to eighth place in the Xfinity Series standings. Creed is still 48 points above the Playoff cut line with 11 regular season races left.
NASCAR also gave out a penalty from the Craftsman Truck Series at Nashville. Tanner Gray’s No. 15 Tricon Garage Toyota was found with a loose lug nut after finishing 11th on Friday. Crew Chief Jerame Donley was fined $2,500.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
