Zane Smith attempted to make a statement by taking out Carson Hocevar on Turn 2 of Lap 32 at Chicagoland, and in doing so, he ended up putting himself into the wall as well. 

Smith finished 28th for Front Row Motorsports while Hocevar finished his race in 22nd for Spire Motorsports. But Smith’s move caused him more harm than Hocevar, with many criticising the No. 38 for jeopardising his own team. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. watched the scuffle on track and then gave his thoughts on the incident, calling out Smith for wasting the efforts of not just his team but his own as well. 

Bluntly speaking on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, Dale Jr. said, “I think there’s a line. I think that Zane crossed it because he wrecked himself. He crossed the line that maybe, as a driver, you don’t want to cross.”

Several others harped on about Smith breaking the number 1 rule of motorsports: don’t wreck yourself while attempting to take someone out.

Dale Jr recalled that Hocevar and Smith had a bust-up in Iowa in 2025 when Hocevar took Smith out and also said that Smith had been making attempts to take Hocevar out in Nashville and a few other times this season. 

Junior criticised Smith and said, “You just can’t do that. There’s too much. He puts too much effort into this to go out there and do that to himself. Not to mention the car and the crew, the ownership, and the partners. He’s had speed lately, and that just ruined the race. I’m like, dude, you got all this momentum.”

While Dale Jr. said that he also wished that Smith would do better than self-sabotage his race. 

Dale Jr. says Smith is not established enough just yet

Zane Smith had his rookie season with Spire in 2024 on loan from Trackhouse Racing and shifted to FRM in 2025. In his third full season now, Smith started his 100th Cup race in Chicagoland, and he didn’t do too well for his own sake. 

Currently winless after 100 races, Smith doesn’t have enough roots to pull what he pulled, said Earnhardt Jr on his podcast. 

“I don’t know; he’s got enough roots into the ground to go out there and do those kinds of things. Now, if you’re established, you’ve got a bunch of wins, and you go out there and throw a race. If you’re pissed off and want to get after somebody, you can throw a race and get away with it.”

Junior was clear that Smith’s behaviour is something that is earned after spending enough time on the track and adding wins to your repertoire. But Dale Jr also said that he would like to back the driver that Smith is to have success. 

“I just hated to see it because I like him as a driver and as a person. I like Zane a lot, and I want him to be around. I want him to work. I want him to be a successful race car driver in this sport.”

While Dale Jr was clear that he wants Smith to be around, the people at Front Row Motorsports who don’t often get to see many good days may have a different outlook on the wasted potential in Chicago. 

What are your thoughts on Zane Smith’s race-throwing move? Let us know.

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason