NASCAR star Zane Smith is forced to apologize to his team after celebrating his victory with a burnout on the track - only for the car to burst into flames!
- last year
NASCAR star Zane Smith saw his success quite literally go up in flames on Saturday afternoon, when a series of celebratory burnouts went wrong.
Smith became the first ever repeat NASCAR winner at the Circuit of the Americas - beating Kyle Busch in the process - and he marked his win with some customary burnouts at the end of the race.
Unfortunately for the 23-year-old Californian, though, as he stepped out of the truck to give his team a hug, it quickly became apparent that his vehicle was going up in flames.
His smile quickly faded to a look of worry as marshals quickly raced to extinguish the fire, but there was severe damage to the winner's truck.
Speaking to FOX Sports after the remarkable incident, Smith said: 'Besides catching on fire in victory, that was a first for me.
'Man, that's a bummer right there… that's easily the most hectic victory lane celebration I have ever had and I apologize for catching the truck on fire in victory lane.'
Afterwards, the Front Row Motorsports vehicle was so damaged it had to be towed off the track.
In the race, meanwhile, Smith led the final 15 laps - a race best 16 of the 42 laps in all - and crossed the finish line an impressive 5.451-seconds ahead of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch.
The win makes Smith's Front Row Motorsports team a perfect 3-for-3 in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at COTA. Todd Gilliland won the 2021 inaugural here.
Ford driver Ty Majeski, Toyota's Tyler Ankrum and last year's NASCAR Cup Series COTA winner, Ross Chastain, in a Chevrolet rounded out the top-five.
It's the second victory of the year for Smith, who won the season-opener at Daytona too -- the same first two victories he earned in his 2022 championship season as well.
'Shout out to Chris Lawson for an amazing strategy," said Smith.
'So cool for (sponsors) Speedco, Peak and all our partners. It was fast when it mattered. I just enjoy coming to all the road courses, especially here. So cool. Just a true testament to this team.'
Smith became the first ever repeat NASCAR winner at the Circuit of the Americas - beating Kyle Busch in the process - and he marked his win with some customary burnouts at the end of the race.
Unfortunately for the 23-year-old Californian, though, as he stepped out of the truck to give his team a hug, it quickly became apparent that his vehicle was going up in flames.
His smile quickly faded to a look of worry as marshals quickly raced to extinguish the fire, but there was severe damage to the winner's truck.
Speaking to FOX Sports after the remarkable incident, Smith said: 'Besides catching on fire in victory, that was a first for me.
'Man, that's a bummer right there… that's easily the most hectic victory lane celebration I have ever had and I apologize for catching the truck on fire in victory lane.'
Afterwards, the Front Row Motorsports vehicle was so damaged it had to be towed off the track.
In the race, meanwhile, Smith led the final 15 laps - a race best 16 of the 42 laps in all - and crossed the finish line an impressive 5.451-seconds ahead of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch.
The win makes Smith's Front Row Motorsports team a perfect 3-for-3 in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at COTA. Todd Gilliland won the 2021 inaugural here.
Ford driver Ty Majeski, Toyota's Tyler Ankrum and last year's NASCAR Cup Series COTA winner, Ross Chastain, in a Chevrolet rounded out the top-five.
It's the second victory of the year for Smith, who won the season-opener at Daytona too -- the same first two victories he earned in his 2022 championship season as well.
'Shout out to Chris Lawson for an amazing strategy," said Smith.
'So cool for (sponsors) Speedco, Peak and all our partners. It was fast when it mattered. I just enjoy coming to all the road courses, especially here. So cool. Just a true testament to this team.'