NASCAR Cup Series driver Zane Smith shared new details about what caused his crash during Lap 268 at Kansas Speedway last week, an incident that abruptly ended his race and resulted in his fifth DNF of the season. The Front Row Motorsports driver initially believed a large multi-car wreck pushed his car, but video replay revealed a different cause.
During the race, Smith was running in 15th place when John Hunter Nemechek of Legacy Motor Club made contact with him entering Turn 3. This collision forced Smith’s car to slide along the backstretch wall, climb it, and ultimately flip twice before settling back on its wheels. The force of the crash was intense enough to cause significant damage and cut his race short.
Zane Smith Describes the Moment of the Crash
Smith recounted the surprising and unsettling circumstances surrounding the crash on Corey LaJoie’s Stacking Pennies podcast.
“Getting into Turn 3, I mean, I didn’t even know what happened,” Zane Smith said on Corey LaJoie’s Stacking Pennies podcast (21:30). “I just got hit so hard it made me climb up the wall. I instantly thought…like, man, there must have been a big wreck underneath me and they all slid up into me. But then, after watching it, it was just the 42 (John Hunter Nemechek) that drove through us.”
“I honestly felt like I was still ripping up against the wall, especially because my head is right by the ground. I felt myself slow down towards the exit of Turn 4, then everything slowed down a lot,” he added.
Smith’s confusion during the accident highlights the severity and unexpected nature of the impact, which sent his car into an alarming sequence along the track’s wall. Fortunately, after being checked at the infield care center, Smith was released without critical injuries but was left shaken by the experience.
The First Time Flipping a Stock Car for Zane Smith
Flipping a stock car is a rare and distressing event for any NASCAR driver, especially for Smith, who is currently in just his second Cup Series season. Reflecting on the crash, Smith expressed how unusual and traumatic the event was for him personally.
“Just crazy restarts at Kansas and, man, I just got wrecked. They just drove right through my left rear, and so hard it kicked me up onto the wall, and then, yeah, just started flipping down the track. No, never flipped a stock car.”
Despite this setback, Smith continues to compete strongly this season. So far, he has earned one top-five finish and four top-10s, sitting 27th in the driver standings with 537 points. His performance illustrates both his potential and the challenges of his sophomore year.
Looking Ahead: Next Challenge at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Smith now shifts his focus to the Bank of ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, scheduled for Sunday, October 5. This 109-lap race will offer an opportunity for Smith to regain momentum and contend for his first victory of the 2025 NASCAR season. Fans can watch the event live on USA Network at 3 pm ET, with radio coverage available through PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The race at Charlotte is crucial as the playoff battles intensify, especially with frontrunners like Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports securing a spot in the next playoff round by winning at Kansas. Elliott was followed by Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Bubba Wallace, while Smith finished 31st after the crash.
Zane Smith’s Kansas crash underscores the unpredictable and chaotic nature of NASCAR racing, where even a strong season contender can be derailed by split-second incidents. His recovery and response in upcoming races will be closely watched as he fights for his first career Cup Series win and aims to improve his standing moving forward.
