Amid the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, Zane Smith has suffered tough setbacks, facing consecutive overtime disappointments that have sparked frustration and determination in the Front Row Motorsports driver. The latest stretch highlights ongoing Zane Smith NASCAR overtime struggles 2025, as Smith’s hopes for playoff contention now rest on a win after late-race incidents pushed him down the standings.
Smith’s Consistency Undercut by Overtime Misfortune
Now in his second year as a full-time Cup driver, Zane Smith has produced strong performances, including three top-10 and eight top-15 finishes. Despite these positives, recent overtime finishes in consecutive races have robbed him of even better results. In each case, incidents during the final laps overturned his progress and dashed potentially strong finishes, complicating his path toward the playoffs.
Tough Luck at Dover and Indy Leaves Smith Reeling
Smith, piloting for Front Row Motorsports, faced challenges from the outset at Dover. After qualifying 30th, he gradually worked his way through the field, ending Stage 1 in 26th and improving to 19th in Stage 2. His run was disrupted by a rain delay, then after the race resumed in overtime—prompted by an incident between Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin—Smith found himself running 14th on the restart.
During the crucial overtime laps, Ryan Preece made contact with the back of Smith’s car, sending him into the inside wall. What could have been a solid top-15 run ended with a 22nd-place result. This disappointment lingered as Smith turned his focus to the following event at the Brickyard 400.
Indy presented a strikingly similar story. Smith began in 27th but capitalized on the speed of his No. 38 ford/”>Ford to reach 20th by the end of Stage 1 and 22nd in Stage 2, before rain halted the race again. As overtime commenced, Smith had worked his way to 13th, appearing poised for redemption. Unfortunately, another late-race incident unfolded when Christopher Bell ran into the back of Smith, forcing him into the outside wall and ending his hopes for a strong finish yet again.
Smith Voices Frustration and Resilience After Incidents
After enduring two consecutive races lost to similar overtime accidents, Smith aired his response on social media. He posted:
“2 weeks in a row getting hooked in the RR in the closing laps of the race. This one was brutal. We are atleast running good when it happens and there are a lot of positives to take away from today. Our day will come. Try again in Iowa!” — Zane Smith, driver for Front Row Motorsports
Playoff Hopes and the Road Ahead
As the regular season nears its close, Smith faces a daunting points deficit. He currently stands 26th in the Cup Series rankings, trailing the playoff cutline by 165 points with only four races left before the postseason. Realistically, a win is his only viable path into the playoffs, as accumulating enough points is out of reach.
Despite these challenges, Smith remains focused on upcoming opportunities, looking first to Iowa for redemption. His optimism endures, with Daytona—renowned for its unpredictability—looming as the finale of the regular season. Last season, Harrison Burton defied the odds there, and Smith is hoping that fortune may finally turn in his favor. As the 26-year-old driver faces the rest of the season, the intensity of his recent setbacks has only sharpened his drive to succeed.
