Zane Smith confronted John Hunter Nemechek following a dramatic crash at Kansas Speedway that saw Smith’s No. 38 Chevy flipped over. The incident occurred during the first overtime restart when Nemechek made contact with Smith, pushing him into the outside wall and causing his car to turn sideways on the track. Smith later described the situation as serious enough that Nemechek “owes us” for the resulting damage and impact on their race performances.
Smith explained that the collision triggered a multi-car pile-up involving Josh Berry and Ty Gibbs, leaving all four drivers with poor finishes far behind the leaders. During the clash, Smith’s car rode the wall for several moments before flipping multiple times, highlighting the severity of the crash.
On the Stacking Pennies podcast, Smith recounted his reaction and his communication with Nemechek after the event, emphasizing the frustration and disbelief he felt over what happened.
“I’m like, man, I just flat out got wrecked like, I mean completely driven through. And so yeah, I mean I know John Hunter well and I just text him you know like hey what what was the plan there? I mean, we were I think that was for like 16th or 18th or something. I mean, I don’t even know if you do like that to win a championship,” he said.[26:27 onwards]
“He basically owned up to just how he messed up. And that doesn’t make it any any better. And yeah, he’s aware that he owes us a lot now and he’s in debt and he has to, you know, think about that for the remainder of races,” he added.
Smith also admitted that initially, he believed a separate pile-up from beneath had caused him to be pushed toward the wall. He conveyed how frightening the crash was, mentioning how close his head came to the ground during the multiple rollovers.
In the NASCAR driver standings, Smith currently sits 27th with 537 points, placing him just behind John Hunter Nemechek.
John Hunter Nemechek Acknowledges Error at Kansas Speedway
John Hunter Nemechek addressed the crash in a recent interview with NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass, expressing regret for his role in the collision. Nemechek explained that his intention was to run three-wide down the middle of the track during the restart, but he lost control entering the corner and clipped Smith’s car.
“Just a mistake on my part. It’s unacceptable and definitely have to learn from and not let that happen again,” he said.
Both drivers ended the race prematurely, with Nemechek finishing 32nd and Smith in 31st place. Nemechek began the playoffs strong with two top-10 finishes at Darlington and Gateway but has since faced challenges, including a 14th place at Bristol and a finish outside the top 30 at New Hampshire.
Kansas marked Nemechek’s third “Did Not Finish” (DNF) this season. Over the course of 31 starts, the No. 42 Legacy Motor Club driver has achieved eight top-10 finishes, including two top-5s, but inconsistency has affected his overall performance in the championship race.
Impact of the Crash and What Lies Ahead
The Kansas incident represents a significant setback for both Smith and Nemechek as they continue their runs in the NASCAR playoffs. Smith’s outspoken comments reflect frustration not only about one race but about the potential consequences on his season. Nemechek’s acknowledgment of fault suggests he understands the gravity and is likely to modify his approach to avoid similar situations in future races.
With several races still left in the season, how Nemechek makes amends and how Smith rebounds from the crash could shape their standings and playoff outcomes. The tense exchange following the wreck highlights the competitive pressure drivers face and the fine margins that can determine championship success or disappointment.
