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Getty

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Getty

NASCAR is notorious for often witnessing drivers engage in fisticuffs. The recently concluded NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Martinsville Speedway was no different. Apparently, the latest fighters were Joe Graf Jr and Gray Gaulding. According to video footage, cameras picked up Gaulding lying on his back with Graf on top of him.

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Many officials and team members tried to separate Graf and Gaulding and were eventually successful. According to Graf’s testimony, Gaulding “mouthed off” and that set off the fuse. Needless to say, Graf threw some punches and admitted that his opponent probably needed some ice packs.

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How did the incident between Gray Gaulding and Joe Graf Jr play out after the NASCAR Xfinity Series race?

Sometime during the 250-lap race, the two drivers collided with each other. In addition to that, poor old Blaine Perkins became an innocent victim when Graf Jr’s out-of-control car hit him. This effectively ended both their races, while Gaulding was somehow able to continue.

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USA Today via Reuters

In the end, Gaulding finished in a lowly 21st place, much to Graf’s annoyance. A fuming Graf Jr said, “With about 75 laps to go, though, Gray just wrecked us and the 23, drove us off into the corner and just flat-out wrecked us and ended our day. I went to have words with him after the race and he mouthed off to me and there were some punches thrown. I landed a couple.”

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Meanwhile, Gaulding’s version of events found him walking back to the hauler. Suddenly, Joe Graf Jr stormed up to him and started swearing at him, enough to make a sailor blush. Safe to say, the driver found the scene highly amusing, which any made Graf Jr even more furious.

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Apparently, the source of Gaulding’s amusement was the fact that Graf Jr is very ‘awkward’. In fact, he did not know whether to take him seriously or not. So, when he started throwing punches, it caught Gaulding off guard.

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MORE: WATCH: Michael Annett Slams into the Wall After Contact With Joe Graf Jr. at Bristol

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Dhruv George

14,855 Articles

Dhruv George is EssentiallySports’ foremost authority on motorsport and a founding member of the outlet’s NASCAR desk. A Journalism graduate fluent in English and French, he brings over eight years of motorsports journalism experience covering everything from high-octane NASCAR battles to the finesse of Formula 1 and MotoGP. His extensive paddock access has earned him exclusive interviews with top names such as F1’s Pierre Gasly and Moto2’s Tony Arbolino, cementing his reputation as a trusted voice among racing fans. Known for his candid opinions, Dhruv isn’t afraid to tackle contentious officiating calls, most recently defending Joey Logano after the DYL penalty in Phoenix. Before focusing on NASCAR as a Senior Writer, Dhruv contributed extensively to EssentiallySports’ coverage of F1 and NASCAR, building a versatile and impactful sports portfolio.

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