Tempers can flare at NASCAR events just like they do in any sport. These drivers are competitors competing at the highest level. Anytime competition is involved, tempers are going to flare.
Rarely do they ever flare to the point where punches are thrown. But that’s exactly what happened on Friday after the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Martinsville Speedway.
Ty Gibbs and Sam Mayer got into a legitimate fist fight. Like, a real one. Not just shoving and a bunch of loud talking — punches were actually thrown. Specifically from Gibbs.
The two were talking about what just happened in the race. Then there was some shoving. Gibbs was about to take his helmet off and then got shoved by Mayer again. And then, boom. Punches.
It was bad. Really bad. Just not a great look for the sport at all.
THE BOYS ARE THROWING DOWN pic.twitter.com/Ht9d574K80
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 9, 2022
Neither one of them one the race. It was Brandon Jones who came through with the win in the end. But that’s also part of the problem.
Let’s go through it.