NASCAR has fined Ty Gibbs $15,000 for crashing into the back of Sam Mayer’s car on pit road at Martinsville Speedway on Friday night.
The confrontation between Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs and JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer following the Xfinity Series race was the highlight of the NASCAR race weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
With just two laps remaining, Gibbs led the field to the green flag for the final restart, but teammate Brandon Jones passed him for the lead on the final lap. While Jones went on to win the race, mayhem erupted behind the wheel of the #19 Toyota.
In turn four of the four-turn, 0.526-mile (0.847-kilometer) oval in Ridgeway, Virginia, Gibbs was on the outside of a three-wide duel with Mayer and Kaulig Racing’s Landon Cassill. Cassill made a move on the inside to take second place for the first time in his career.
After colliding with Mayer on the penultimate lap of the Xfinity Series race, Gibbs became enraged. As the two fought for the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus, Mayer slammed the bumper on Gibbs to go beneath him going into Turn 3. Gibbs was stranded on the outside of Mayer and Landon Cassill as a result of the contact, and there was additional contact coming around the last bend.
It was all in vain. The extra money went to AJ Allmendinger, while Mayer came in fifth and Gibbs, who dominated but was passed for the win by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Brandon Jones, came in eighth.
Gibbs sped up into Turns 1 and 2 after the checkered flag and ran into the back of Mayer as the pack was slowing down. Before he collided with Mayer a second time, it damaged the front of Gibbs’ Toyota.
Gibbs also ran into the rear of Mayer’s JR Motorsports car on pit road, resulting in the fine, which is labelled as a behavioural penalty. As the two drivers climbed out, both vehicles were trapped together, and growing tensions led to Gibbs throwing blows.
Gibbs shoved Mayer as he removed his helmet and then began walking away. Mayer approached him again to continue the conversation, but Gibbs, still wearing his helmet, began swinging at his head. Mayer was left with a bloody cut above his left eye as a result of the punches.
Both drivers were summoned to the NASCAR hauler for a ten-minute meeting with authorities. After that, they exchanged handshakes.
NASCAR imposed no extra sanctions as a result of the event. Chris Gayle, the crew chief for Gibbs and the No. 54 squad, was penalised $5,000 for one lug not being secured on the car, according to the Tuesday penalty report.
Also suspended for the next four Xfinity Series races are Richard Childress Racing crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz (Sheldon Creed), vehicle chief Kris McCabe, and crew member Sam Bowers. Ballast came out of Creed’s car during Thursday practise at Martinsville Speedway, prompting the penalty.
