NASCAR
Last-Lap Pass Gives Sammy Smith Weekend Sweep at Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Two races on two different days in two different series, but the same result from Talladega. A day after earning his maiden Truck win on the Alabama high banks, Sammy Smith doubled up his winning ways in O’Reilly. The JR Motorsports No. 8 ends a long losing drought dating back well over a year, and finds victory lane again at Talladega.
Both stages would be ran completely green and be split by JR Motorsports teammates – Carson Kvapil and Justin Allgaier. After taking Stage 2, Allgaier’s No. 7 also provisionally took the points lead back from a struggling Jesse Love. Trying to gain every point possible, Allgaier was also a strong third in Stage 1, with Kvapil also P2 in the second segment.
Kvapil’s No. 1 remained out front for almost the entirety of the final Stage, until the last lap. Teammate Sammy Smith had a run into turn three and made the pass to the inside, getting just enough momentum to win a drag race back to the line. For the second time this weekend, the Iowa native was victorious on Alabama’s ultimate stage.
What a finish by Sammy Smith!!!
A late surge for the 8 gives @sammysmithSS his first victory of the season at Talladega! pic.twitter.com/k32GF5J0CA
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) October 24, 2026
“I’m out of breath, that was mentally draining,” Smith said. “Just thank you to everybody, it was a great executed race by JRM and Corey [Day]. We did a great job just sticking to our plan, and getting those guys stage points. I’m sure they wanted to win too, but I had a good run there and took it. Tyler Green [spotter] did a great job up top to get me backed up. Thanks to Jesse [Love] for pushing me, I’m sure I’m his biggest fan right now helping him. Really I’m just happy for everyone on this No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet. It’s been a tough one this year, just thank you to everyone. I’m looking forward to Martinsville next week.”
“We’re out of the championship but we can still win races. Our goal was to win here, just thank you to JRM and everyone who’s supported me through this time and given me everything. There’s so many people to thank who got me here to win races like this.”
.@sammysmithSS should be pretty used to this drive by now to @TALLADEGA victory lane, with 2 trophies in 2 days. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/SrjMlE4kUP
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 24, 2026
Smith just snookered teammate Kvapil at the line, with both beating points leader Jesse Love, Justin Allgaier, and Sheldon Creed. Hear some of these drivers’ post-Talladega thoughts below.
.@Carson_Kvapil led a race-high 67 laps only to lose the top spot on the last lap and come home 2nd, his thoughts:#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/3FmDalta4x
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 24, 2026
“That was the most boring, annoying race I’ve ever ran in my life,”
Jesse Love says after climbing out.
Says the Hendrick-engine bunch did a great job defending today.
Feels very good about where he sits points wise. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/DtDz9M3kB6
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) October 24, 2026
.@corey_day_ came home 6th, just shy off defending his win here and trails the Chase lead by 29 points. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/0DKrUeVkd3
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 24, 2026
.@sam_mayer_ says he wanted to be the first one to make a last lap move, but it didn’t pay off with the 41 coming across the line in 13th. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/kzpj8m5dXF
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 24, 2026
Love’s championship lead after finishing third now stands at 19 points over Justin Allgaier. Five drivers remain within a race of the standing’s lead heading into Martinsville, where mayhem has reigned supreme in O’Reilly. The National Debt Relief 250 goes green Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
