Zane Smith experienced a harrowing crash during the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, turning what was meant to be a routine finish into an unforgettable incident that left the crowd in disbelief. The Zane Smith Kansas crash occurred late in the race as the tension among playoff drivers was palpable, dramatically impacting the outcome of the event.
High-Speed Collision Sends Smith Airborne
While Smith aimed to finish the race uneventfully, a collision between his No. 38 and John Hunter Nemechek altered both drivers’ races and heightened the intensity of the Kansas field. The contact took place as Smith and Nemechek fought for positions inside the top 20, trailing far behind leader Bubba Wallace. Nemechek drifted up the track in turn 4, clipping Smith, which violently propelled Smith’s car onto its side. The car skidded against the wall, the driver’s side window net scraping the asphalt, before flipping multiple times and finally landing upright on the apron of the 1.5-mile tri-oval.
“Zane Smith just flipped over at Kansas! @NASCAR #NASCAR #HollywoodCasino400 pic.twitter.com/jTh2Cuf4lf”—Colin Welty
Smith Walks Away After Frightening Incident
Despite the alarming nature of the crash, Zane Smith managed to exit the vehicle under his own power, much to the relief of fans and pit crews alike. Smith emerged shaken but unharmed, with his focus quickly shifting to processing the violence of the accident.
“Zane Smith exited the vehicle under his own power after this incident late at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/vbF4OXvROl”—NASCAR
Smith described the event as intensely violent, saying it resulted from high-pressure restarts that make Kansas Speedway notorious for chaos. He commented on the incident, noting that contact from Nemechek drove through his left rear, which pushed him up onto the wall and triggered the wild flips. Smith emphasized how the unpredictability ruined his day and added an unwanted first to his racing résumé.
So, violent, no doubt, but a really fast SpeedyCash Ford. Just a bummer it had to end this way … never flipped a stock car, so, add that one to the resume.”—Zane Smith, Driver
Aftermath and Shifts in Race Dynamics
The violent crash resulted in early exits for Zane Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, and Josh Berry, with Smith finishing 31st. Neither Nemechek nor Berry provided comments regarding the crash afterward. NASCAR officials brought out overtime as the crash negated what had been a dominating Toyota presence at the front of the field. This dramatic turn enabled Chevrolet’s Chase Elliott to capitalize on the reset, running down the leaders during the restart and capturing an unexpected victory.
Significance of the Kansas Speedway Incident
The Zane Smith Kansas crash served as a reminder of the risks inherent in NASCAR racing and the split-second changes that can upend both the physical and competitive landscape of an event. The incident not only rattled the drivers and fans but also shifted the playoff picture and race results. With major contenders abruptly knocked out and an unanticipated winner in Chase Elliott, the Hollywood Casino 400 underscored the unpredictability and intensity that defines high-stakes motorsport events.
Zane Smith just flipped over at Kansas! @NASCAR #NASCAR #HollywoodCasino400 pic.twitter.com/jTh2Cuf4lf
— Colin Welty (@weltywx) September 28, 2025
Zane Smith exited the vehicle under his own power after this incident late at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/vbF4OXvROl
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
