Zane Smith, a rising talent in the NASCAR Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports, has seen his professional journey closely accompanied by a remarkable personal narrative—his relationship with wife McCall Smith, formerly McCall Gaulding. Drawing attention for their enduring connection, their story merges the world of motorsports with a romance that took root during their formative years and blossomed into marriage.
Early Beginnings Through Racing Connections
The details of Zane and McCall’s relationship had largely remained private until McCall shared insights on Haley Dillon’s podcast. Growing up around the racetrack, McCall knew of Smith before they met, admiring him from afar in her early teens. Her family’s involvement in racing, including her brother Gray Gaulding’s own career, set the stage for future meetings as Smith reached out to her father for advice about his nascent motorsports path. Smith’s trip to North Carolina to explore racing opportunities provided the first real encounter between the two.
A Growing Connection Through Family and Friendship
During those initial meetings, McCall, then only 13, instantly developed feelings for Smith after learning his Instagram handle. However, her father was hesitant to encourage any romance at such a young age, keeping their interactions friendly and within family boundaries. As time passed, particularly by 2016, the two began to communicate more often and a close friendship developed into something deeper.
First Date and Lasting Impressions
When the pair eventually considered dating, McCall’s parents laid out a rule: she could only go if accompanied by her cousin. Smith mirrored this arrangement by bringing along his best friend, Mikey, creating an impromptu double date. This thoughtful and respectful approach solidified the budding relationship, helping build a foundation of trust with her family.
A Dream Realized: Taking Their Relationship Forward
After their early dates, Smith invited McCall to the Biltmore and, on August 31, 2016, asked her to be his girlfriend—a moment McCall described as almost dreamlike. She described her emotions by saying,
“it went from this like manifestation, like it’s so funny.”
– McCall Smith, during podcast appearance. The sense of destiny and manifestation resonated with McCall, who compared her experience to Haley Bieber’s own story of manifesting Justin Bieber into her life, seeing herself as having brought her future husband into reality through hope and admiration.
From Teen Crush to Married Life Alongside NASCAR
The romance that began through family connections, shared dreams, and mutual support has stood the test of time. Now married, McCall and Zane Smith chart their life together as Zane continues his racing career, having shown notable improvement by finishing 28th in the latest NASCAR Cup Series season, two places higher than his last season with Spire Motorsports. While Smith’s focus remains on climbing the ranks in NASCAR, his love story with McCall underscores a journey that moved from youthful hope to lifelong partnership. Their relationship not only highlights the importance of family and patience but also how dreams, when pursued with intent and sincerity, can indeed come true in unexpected ways.
