KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In the closing moments of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Kansas Speedway, Zane Smith experienced a dramatic crash that left fans stunned. Smith was running near the front on the final restart when contact from John Hunter Nemechek resulted in Smith’s car flipping in overtime, a rare and intense incident during the event.
Strong Performance Marred by Late-Race Collision
Throughout the race weekend, Smith showed competitive speed, placing ninth in the opening stage and securing two bonus points. While he did not maintain a top-10 position consistently, his performance kept him in the top 16 through much of the race until the incident during the overtime restart. As Smith came into turn three, Nemechek made contact with Smith’s left-rear quarter panel, pushing him into the wall. This contact caused Smith’s car to climb the barrier and flip.
Smith Walks Away, Frustrated but Unharmed
Despite the severity of the flip, Smith exited the vehicle on his own and was unharmed, though visibly frustrated by the turn of events.
“It was a wild ride, no doubt. Before I knew it, I had a decent restart going and I just get wrecked by the 42… Just drives through. I was just mad because we had a decent day going and flipping like that made me even more mad,”
Smith told USA.
“We had been racing inside the top 10 all day and it’s a shame it had to end that way.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Season Overview and What’s Next for Smith
This season has been solid for Smith, who has earned four top-10 finishes, including a notable third place at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. His average finish of 20.9 represents an improvement of 2.3 positions compared to his 2024 performance. The crash at Kansas is a setback, but Smith’s consistent form suggests he remains a strong contender as the playoffs progress.
Zane Smith exited the vehicle under his own power after this incident late at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/vbF4OXvROl
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
