This wasn’t a NASCAR race. It was sanctioned by the “Empire Super Sprint” organization. This is a regional group (limited to New York; may travel to Pennsylvania occasionally) that conducts “tour” races to tracks in New York.
A few NASCAR drivers, when they’re in town for the big race on Sunday, visit local dirt tracks to mix it up with the locals. Tony Stewart does / did this all the time, as have David Reutimann (his Dad, Buzzie, was a Superstar at our local NY dirt track in the 60’s), Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Dave Blaney, J.J. Yeley, and others.
I don’t know if, after this debacle, that will continue or not.