What can be embarrassing when you are on a path to excellence? Zane Smith is picking up pace slowly but surely in his Cup Series sophomore season. Yet he has had certain moments of regret. For instance, when Carson Hocevar got into his car in Iowa, Smith tried to stage a revenge. Ten laps later, he tried to wreck Hocevar, but to no avail. This elicited a string of amused responses from fans, who called Smith out for his ’embarrassing’ moment.

However, Zane Smith does not count that as something that would make him hide his face in shame. The No. 38 Ford driver has been finishing well in 2025, inching slowly towards a much-awaited Cup Series breakthrough. At the same time, he is also inching towards his prime moment of embarrassment.

Zane Smith lets his emotions run free

Although Zane Smith has not won a Cup race yet, he has a long trail of brilliance in NASCAR. Across 4 seasons from 2020 to 2023, Smith clinched nine trophies in the Craftsman Truck Series. He also scored three Championship 4 appearances and clinched a Truck title in 2022. During those stellar times, the Huntington Beach, California, native was not only striving for a Cup Series career, but he was also having the time of his life. In fact, his soaring emotions at Victory Lane sometimes tipped over, and he let himself be vulnerable to his heart in front of everybody. That is what Zane Smith revealed recently on a ‘Stacking Pennies’ episode.

Corey LaJoie threw this question at the Front Row Motorsports driver: “What’s your most embarrassing moment at the racetrack?” And Zane Smith was a little undecided at first. “Oh man, most embarrassing moment. Uh, I don’t know.” Then he circled back to his Truck Series glory days and divulged that Victory Lane captured his heartwarming moments. “I’m an emotional guy. So there’s been a couple of wins where I get a little teary-eyed,” he said.

Of course, NASCAR is known to host rowdy drivers, for whom any expression of emotions means either getting into physical brawls or verbal slugfests. Hence, Zane Smith said, “That’s a little embarrassing at times.” Yet the FRM star deviated as well, owning up to his unique nature. “But I care a lot about it,” he said, and Corey LaJoie supported him: “There’s nothing wrong with that.” Skip Flores also poked fun at this unique moment of embarrassment: “First guy that’s ever been embarrassed for winning.”

But presently, Zane Smith is more concerned about reaching that embarrassing moment again. The FRM driver scored his season’s first top five and third career top five on Saturday’s Bristol night race. And he reflected on his constant struggle: “Man, you could go through a stretch there without just winning something, and it takes a toll on you. Like, man, can I still do this? Do I still stay as locked in as I did? And you question why it’s not happening.” He continued, “But it was a good reminder on Saturday that I feel I still can win.”

Zane Smith hopes to keep up his good streak in the next race as well.

Harnessing all the help he needs

The FRM star has encountered multiple upsetting moments this season. In Dover, Ryan Preece wrecked him out when Zane Smith was running in 14th place. Then, Smith was running 13th at the Brickyard 400 when contact with Christopher Bell ended his race. However, Smith is on his way back up. He came dangerously close to a victory at Bristol’s fiery tire management race. But with four laps to go, Smith washed high against Carson Hocevar and opened the door for Christopher Bell to zoom away to the victory. The defeat stung, but having a chance was all the encouragement he needed to look forward to New Hampshire.

Ahead of the Magic Mile event, Zane Smith has an optimistic mindset. Long John Silver’s will partner with Smith for the 301-lap event. And Smith is relying on some veterans’ advice, as he divulged, “New Hampshire isn’t a track I have a lot of laps at, but it’s Ryan’s (Bergenty) home track and a place he’s had success at with Ryan Newman in the Modifieds. So there’s a lot of positivity heading into the weekend.” He added, “I hope to qualify well. I think qualifying can be incredibly important, as it is every weekend. But it’s tough to pass – a little bit different tire there…I’m excited to see what it brings.”

Evidently, Zane Smith hopes to scale up his chances of more embarrassing moments. Let’s wait and see how the sophomore driver performs in the following races.