Taylor Gray wins the IAA Ritchie Bros 250 at Martinsville Speedway, scoring 66.2 fantasy points from the 13th starting position.
Taylor Gray Takes the Checkered Flag
In a remarkable drive from 13th on the grid, Taylor Gray in the No. 54 carved through the field to steal the victory — a gain of 12 positions that defined the race. Taylor Gray led 52 laps on the day, showing pace throughout the event.
Every position was earned the hard way on this tight, physical circuit where aggressive driving paid dividends.
Battle for the Podium
Sammy Smith (No. 8) finished second after starting 15th, making up 13 positions. Brandon Jones (No. 20) rounded out the top three.
Biggest Movers
- Connor Zilisch (No. 88): 38th → 9th (+29 positions)
- Dean Thompson (No. 26): 30th → 8th (+22 positions)
- Sam Mayer (No. 41): 24th → 7th (+17 positions)
Full Top-10 Results
| Pos | Driver | Start | Laps Led | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Taylor Gray #54 | 13th | 52 | 66.2 |
| 2nd | Sammy Smith #8 | 15th | 0 | 35 |
| 3rd | Brandon Jones #20 | 11th | 0 | 45 |
| 4th | Sheldon Creed #00 | 5th | 0 | 37 |
| 6th | Jeb Burton #27 | 12th | 0 | 31 |
| 7th | Sam Mayer #41 | 24th | 32 | 46.2 |
| 8th | Dean Thompson #26 | 30th | 0 | 29 |
| 9th | Connor Zilisch #88 | 38th | 0 | 33 |
| 11th | Harrison Burton #25 | 1st | 16 | 31.6 |
| 12th | Austin Hill #21 | 6th | 0 | 25 |
Stage Results
Stage 1: 1st Justin Allgaier, 3rd Brenden Queen
Stage 2: 1st Carson Kvapil, 2nd Brenden Queen, 3rd Christian Eckes
By the Numbers
- Cautions: 9 for 71 laps
- Lead Changes: 11 among 9 drivers
- Margin of Victory: .344
- Average Speed: 63.12 mph
- DNFs: 2
Lap Leaders
- Taylor Gray #54: 52 laps
- Carson Kvapil #1: 40 laps
- Justin Allgaier #7: 37 laps
Perfect Fantasy Lineup
The optimal FantasyJolt lineup would have scored 362 points:
| Group | Driver | Finish | Base Pts | Multiplied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (2.0x) | Taylor Gray #54 | P1 | 66.2 | 132.4 |
| B (1.75x) | Sam Mayer #41 | P7 | 46.2 | 80.85 |
| C (1.5x) | Brandon Jones #20 | P3 | 45 | 67.5 |
| D (1.25x) | Sheldon Creed #00 | P4 | 37 | 46.25 |
| E (1.0x) | Sammy Smith #8 | P2 | 35 | 35 |
Fantasy Takeaways
- Taylor Gray delivered 66.2 fantasy points with the win and 52 laps led. The No. 54 is a premium play at this track type.
- Connor Zilisch was the value play of the race, climbing 29 positions from 38th to 9th.
- Sam Mayer led all non-winners with 46.2 fantasy points — don't overlook the No. 41 going forward.