NASCAR has long carried a reputation for being one of the most intense sports around — and it’s easy to see why. With high speeds and high stakes, tempers can flare fast.
Back in the day, there weren’t strict rules for when drivers crossed the line, and that led to some heated rivalries like Dale Earnhardt vs. Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson vs. Kevin Harvick. But today, most drivers take a calmer route, and it’s rare for things to get too personal.
Still, the recent dust-up between Zane Smith and Ty Dillon at the North Wilkesboro All-Star Race felt like a throwback — especially after Dillon made some fiery post-race comments. And now, Smith has finally broken his silence.
The Drama in Zane Smith and Ty Dillon’s North Wilkesboro Outing
During the All-Star Open, Ty Dillon started 10th while Zane Smith rolled off from the sixth spot. Neither was in the lead pack, but both stayed inside the top 10 for most of the race.
Up front, Shane van Gisbergen led a race-high 54 laps, followed by Carson Hocevar, who led 46.
Near the end, Dillon was ahead of Smith, who was trying hard to crack the top five. Coming out of Turn 4, Dillon moved up the track and gave Smith plenty of space.
But contact still happened — Smith’s No. 38 Ford tapped Dillon’s No. 10 Chevy, and while the damage wasn’t serious, Dillon wasn’t happy. He felt the bump cost him a better finish.
In the end, Hocevar took the win, Dillon came home third, and Smith finished sixth.
After the race, Dillon got out of his car and marched over to Smith for a quick — and clearly tense — conversation.
The confrontation: pic.twitter.com/2QX8Z5B5FS
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia)
Later, speaking with the media, Dillon explained what happened and didn’t hold back. He even revealed the threat he made to Smith.
“There’s something about the younger guys in the sport now. They’ve never had to deal with consequences. What I told him was if he wrecks me again, I’m just going to beat his a**.”
MORE: Ty Dillon Sends Blunt Message to Zane Smith
Dale Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media posted the clip, and it quickly racked up nearly 80,000 views.
Eventually, Zane Smith responded — not with more trash talk, but with a short and cool-headed repost of the video:
“Ain’t beating nobody’s ass.”
Ain’t beating nobody’s ass.
— Zane Smith (@ZaneSmith)
Smith, known for his calm demeanor, helped cool things down and avoided letting the situation grow into a bigger feud.