Zane Smith Strikes Back At Ty Dillon After NASCAR All-Star Open Threat
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Front Row Motorsports driver Zane Smith has fired back at Ty Dillon's NASCAR All-Star Open threat.
The Kaulig Racing driver fumed following the All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro, claiming, "If he wrecks me again, I'm just going to beat his ass.
"Coming off [Turn] 4, I think I gave him plenty of room, and he just doors me halfway down the straightaway...There's something about the younger guys they never had to deal with consequences."
As the moment quickly gained traction on social media, Smith took it upon himself to respond to the No. 10 Chevrolet driver's threat. He wrote:
Zane Smith, driver of the #38 Horizon Hobby Ford, waits on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 10, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas.
Zane Smith, driver of the #38 Horizon Hobby Ford, waits on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 10, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas."Ain't beating nobody's ass."
Ain't beating nobody's ass. — Zane Smith (@ZaneSmith) May 18, 2025
Smith signed a full-time driver contract with Front Row Motorsports for 2025 on a multi-year agreement. The 25-year-old stated at the time of the announcement:
"I've always felt at home with Front Row Motorsports.
"They believed in me when I signed with them to race in the Truck Series initially in 2022 and we shared so much success together, winning six races and a championship in two seasons.
"Unfortunately, everyone had to make tough decisions because there were only two Cup cars available at Front Row Motorsports going into last season when I was ready to move up full-time.
"Now, going into next year, Front Row has really taken their Cup program to another level and I cannot think of a better lineup of teammates. Todd (Gilliland) and Noah (Gragson) are great friends of mine and we all have a lot to prove as young drivers in the Cup Series.
"It is a great time to come back and continue to build my career with an organization where I know I can win."
He added:
"I want to thank Bob [Jenkins, owner], Jerry [Freeze, general manager] and Mark Rushbrook at Ford for making this happen.
"I know that we can win together in the Cup Series like we did in the Truck Series. It's a great time to come back as we continue to make FRM even better."
NASCAR All-Star Open results
1. Carson Hocever, No. 77 Chevrolet,
2. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
3. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
4. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
5. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
6. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
7. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
8. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
9. Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
10. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
11. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
12. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
13. Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
14. Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
15. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
16. Cody Ware, No. 15 Ford
17. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
18. Chad Finchum, No. 66 Ford
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