NASCAR has penalized Sammy Smith 50 points and fined him $25,000 for wrecking Taylor Gray from the lead on the final lap of last weekend’s Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The penalty drops Smith from sixth in the points to 13th in the points heading into Saturday’s race at Darlington Raceway.

The NASCAR Cup Series has completed the first short track race of the year, with Denny Hamlin winning Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin led 274 laps to earn his sixth career victory at his home track in Martinsville.

Denny Hamlin’s 55th NASCAR Cup victory tied him with Rusty Wallace for 11th on the sport’s all-time win list, but for the Virginia native the Martinsville victory was more important than others he has recorded because it could put him on the path to claim the series championship that has eluded him for two decades.