MARTINSVILLE, Va. — At a track where Taylor Gray has experienced seemingly endless frustration, he finally checked off a career goal. He won his first national NASCAR series race after showcasing the best car in the field.
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"Gosh, about damn time," Gray told CW Sports reporter Dillon Welch after doing his celebratory burnouts. "Get me a clock, baby! Woo! Woohoo!"
He was all-out coming to the line!@Carson_Kvapil advances to the #Championship4 by just four points! pic.twitter.com/V2Mnyn9vYB
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 26, 2025
It is always exciting to win races in NASCAR; they are not easy to secure. However, this win meant a little more for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. It was also a bit of redemption.
Gray has been in the lead in the closing laps the last two times he traveled to Martinsville Speedway. He led with six laps remaining in last season's Truck Series playoff race, but Christian Eckes punted him out of the way.
This led to an angry walk down pit road, as well as a confrontation between the two drivers. Gray missed out on the Championship 4 while Eckes advanced to Phoenix.
This season, Gray took the lead from Sammy Smith during overtime of the spring race at Martinsville. He cleared for the lead entering the final turn, but Smith shipped his car in and slammed into the rear of Gray's No. 54.
This spun them both and sparked a crash that collected nearly the entire field. Instead of winning, Gray had an angry confrontation with Smith in the infield care center. Austin Hill became the driver who parked in victory lane after sneaking past the calamity.
A replay of the #NASCAROvertime finish at @MartinsvilleSwy. pic.twitter.com/fGJecynkQT
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 29, 2025
Fast forward to Saturday's Round of 8 elimination race — Gray had the lead in overtime. Smith raced behind him once again in need of a win that would put him in the Championship 4.
"I think there's definitely a thought in the back of my head thinking that I could get wrecked and then it could be a rerun of the spring race," Gray said during his post-race press conference.
This time, Smith chose to race cleanly. He missed out on the most important win of his career, but he also showed growth. It also helped that Gray altered how he pulled off the restarts and put his car in a position where other competitors could not reach it.
Gray finally had the opportunity to celebrate the first national series win of his career, one that he had sought since his Truck Series debut in 2021.
"I think it's a combination of two things. I think it's redemption, and I also think it's a group of things that I've learned from the two races I've lost here," Gray said. "And (I) made sure I didn't lose another one when I was in contention."
