There was a time when NASCAR’s disciplinary actions were decisive and clear-cut, ensuring the integrity of the sport. In 2015, Matt Kenseth faced a two-race suspension for deliberately wrecking Joey Logano during the Martinsville Speedway race, a move that underscored NASCAR’s commitment to fair competition.

Similarly, in November 2011, Kyle Busch was suspended from the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races that weekend for retaliating against Ron Hornaday Jr. in a Truck Series race, reflecting NASCAR’s intolerance for dangerous on-track behavior. However, recent incidents have sparked debates about the consistency and effectiveness of NASCAR’s penalty system, leaving drivers and fans questioning the current state of officiating.

After Martinsville, Dale Jr. and Denny Hamlin joked about taking matters into their own hands. But behind the humor was a real concern about the state of NASCAR’s penalty system.

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Sammy Smith’s No. 8 Chevy tagged Taylor Gray’s No. 54 Toyota on the last lap. This sent Gray into the wall. Moreover, Smith lost control and crashed into Justin Allgaier, triggering a multi-car wreck. Amid the carnage, Austin Hill seized victory. Denny Hamlin was infuriated by how the race ended, calling it “Absolute garbage,” on X.

Similarly, during the Cup Series race, there were multiple incidents. For instance, tensions flared between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain following an on-track incident. As they were battling for fifth position, Chastain appeared to slow up ahead of Joey Logano’s car. This resulted in Logano slamming into Chastain’s bumper. Another notable incident involved Carson Hocevar and Chris Buescher getting into a collision that sent the latter spinning. Bubba Wallace and Josh Berry, too, were involved in a pit road incident. Most of them went unnoticed by NASCAR officials.

These incidents have prompted discussions about the effectiveness of NASCAR’s current penalty system. Dale Earnhardt Jr. humorously proposed, “They ought to let me and Denny go up in that booth and just handle, hand out penalties.” Travis, however, suggested that three officials are needed to finalize a decision. But Dale Jr. quickly dismissed the need for additional oversight, adding, “I would f—— do it by myself.”

Dale Jr. took his stance a step further, showing his commitment to fair officiating. “I will let you penalize my drivers if you see fit,” he stated, reinforcing his belief in consistent enforcement of the rules. NASCAR has been under fire lately for several controversial calls, or lack thereof, leaving drivers and fans frustrated. Hamlin seemed quite enthusiastic about the idea. “This isn’t rocket science. You can see with your own two eyes. We don’t need replays. Some are more obvious than the others. There were three last Saturday that were easy calls.” This came after Hamlin made it expressly clear that he wouldn’t stay quiet about what unfolded on the track. “God I wish I were in the booth. Id get fired but I damn sure would call these idiots out.” 

Interestingly, Dale Jr. backed up his driver Sammy Smith. “Oh man, NASCAR’s gotta park him. Dale Jr. should park him.’ You know, anyone who thinks I’m gonna park Sammy, that’s out of the question. Never gonna happen.” What Junior wants is clear. NASCAR needs to take a stand. With aggressive moves escalating and last-lap chaos becoming routine, the need for stricter penalties has never been clearer. Earnhardt Jr.’s bold proposition may have been lighthearted, but it reflects a growing concern. If NASCAR doesn’t tighten its rulebook soon, more drivers might take justice into their own hands.

And to some extent, NASCAR has reacted, with Smith receiving a penalty.

Sammy Smith faces a penalty after the Martinsville incident

NASCAR officials have penalized Xfinity Series driver Sammy Smith for his actions during the final lap of the Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway. In response, NASCAR docked Smith 50 driver points and imposed a $25,000 fine. This penalty drops Smith from sixth to 13th in the Xfinity Series standings, placing him 128 points behind leader and teammate Justin Allgaier.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Managing Director Eric Peterson commented on the decision: “We want to see really hard racing and door-to-door racing, and contact is certainly a part of the sport and part of the sport at Martinsville Speedway.” He added that, after reviewing all relevant data, officials concluded Smith’s actions crossed the line, necessitating a response.

Moreover, post-race tensions escalated when Smith and Gray confronted each other near the infield care center. Officials intervened to prevent the situation from becoming physical. Smith acknowledged his intent behind the contact, citing prior on-track interactions with Gray. Both Gray and Jeb Burton, involved in the final-lap crash, received $5,000 fines for inappropriate conduct at the care center. ​

This incident has intensified discussions about NASCAR’s penalty system and the consistency of its enforcement, especially concerning last-lap altercations. The penalties issued to Smith, Gray, and Burton highlight NASCAR’s commitment to maintaining order and sportsmanship during and after races.

These penalties send a clear message, but do they go far enough? With Martinsville’s history of aggressive racing, should NASCAR impose harsher consequences for late-race incidents going forward? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.