Views: 2
Sammy Smith was officially declared the winner of the 2025 North Carolina Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, April 19, after Jesse Love was disqualified for a rear suspension violation during post-race inspection. This marked Smith’s first victory of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and his third career win in the series.
The race, held at the historic 0.94-mile Rockingham Speedway, was the 10th event of the 2025 Xfinity Series and the first time the series returned to Rockingham since 2004. Originally scheduled for 250 laps, the race extended to 256 laps due to an overtime restart. Jesse Love initially crossed the finish line first, but his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet failed post-race inspection, resulting in a disqualification and a 37th-place finish.
Smith, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, was elevated to first place following Love’s disqualification. This win also secured Smith the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus, as he was among the four eligible drivers for the prize. Parker Retzlaff achieved a career-best second-place finish with Alpha Prime Racing, while Harrison Burton secured third place for AM Racing.
The race was notable for its high attrition rate, with multiple incidents leading to several drivers failing to finish. Ryan Sieg led a race-high 77 laps but was involved in a late-race incident, resulting in an 18th-place finish. The event also featured the return of Kasey Kahne to NASCAR-sanctioned competition, marking his first race since 2018.
Smith’s victory at Rockingham adds to his growing list of accomplishments in the Xfinity Series. Previously, he secured wins at Phoenix in 2023 and Talladega in 2024. The Rockingham win not only boosts his position in the championship standings but also underscores his potential as a rising star in NASCAR.
