Earnhardt: Sammy Smith “Gave JR Motorsports a Black Eye”

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks on during the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not hold back on this week’s episode of the Dale Jr. Download when addressing Sammy Smith’s controversial actions at Martinsville this past weekend. The NASCAR legend says he has spoken with the driver and stressed that though his reputation took a hit, Smith has “a ton of regret” for his actions.

After JR Motorsports driver Sammy Smith intentionally wrecked Taylor Gray, inadvertently wrecked another JRM car, and a large portion of the field, JRM team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted on X, “This racetrack is historic in the grand scheme of all things NASCAR and deserves better.”

With such an ominous post, most fans awaited a fiery episode of the Dale Jr Download this Tuesday. However, while Earnhardt was honest about the incident, there was no temper or ill will towards his driver, as the NASCAR Hall of Famer broke down his conversations with Smith after the race.

Earnhardt reflected on his call with Smith, stating:

“You know, I can’t sit here and tell you, ‘Oh, yeah, man, he’s sorry, he’s really sorry. And man, he’s gonna do better.’ But he says all those things. He says that he understands that he screwed up. He knows he gives himself a black eye, he gave JR Motorsports a black eye. He knows that we’re very disappointed, and he certainly has tons of regret.”

“He Ain’t Gonna Fix It in 12 Hours”

To make matters worst, Smith’s move for the win this past Saturday didn’t even garner a win. Smith’s late race wreck cost him a top-five finish and technically cost himself or teammate Justin Allgaier a shot at the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash bonus.

This wreck was the icing on a race that some, like FOX Sports Mike Joy, have compared to a dumpster fire rather than a cake. Some fans even called on Earnhardt to park Smith for a race, something the veteran team owner said is “out of the question.”

While Earnhardt is sticking by his driver, he is upfront about the amount of work that Smith will put in to improve his image amongst the fans and his peers. “He ain’t gonna fix it in 12 hours,” Earnhardt said. 
”He’s got a lot of work to do to repair his reputation. That was a heavy blow, you know.”

Earnhardt even addressed the assumptions that Smith is at JRM “because of some extra funding or family connection,” reminding the young driver that he has added pressure due to this perception. He told Smith, “Everybody thinks you’re a spoiled punk. That’s what a lot of people think. I asked him, ‘Don’t you agree that people have that perception of you, probably?’ 
He’s like, ‘yeah,’ I said, you gave them the opportunity to be right.”

While this was a bit of tough love for Smith, Earnhardt is supportive of his driver during this controversial time, closing out the topic by stating, “He can do it. I know him. He’s a a nice kid, wants this really badly, wants to win, wants to be successful, and I want that for him, I want that for him here [JRM].”

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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