Zane Smith was disqualified after a windshield violation at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Over the weekend, NASCAR raced at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race was a playoff elimination race for the NASCAR Truck Series.
Hear from NASCAR below.
Zane Smith was one of the eight drivers in the playoff battle. However, he needed a win to advance into the championship round.
Smith spent time at the front of the field. And as he led the race, fans noticed that his front windshield would buckle at high speeds.
In post-race tech inspection, NASCAR found a violation. They disqualified the No. 38 from the event, relegating Smith to a last place finish.
Miami Results: October 21, 2023 (NASCAR Truck Series)
Zane Smith disqualified at Homestead-Miami Speedway
NASCAR details the DQ to Zane Smith
“If you take the vehicle and look inside, there’s usually between 3 and 4 braces,” Elton Sawyer stated via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
“They’re mounted to the roof and down to the windshield bed. Those braces are there really for safety reasons.”
“To make sure, at high speeds, you know we’re 175+ mph at Homestead. It’s basically to keep the windshield, if there’s any issues, from blowing in.”
“Then, there’s also the aerodynamic, competitive, competition side of it. The tricks of the trade that the teams will potentially mess with. That’s why the rule is there.”
“Unfortunately, post-race we found that two of them were in contact with the inner surface of the windshield. That’s basically how we officiate that, it needs to be in contact with the inner surface the entire race.”
“It is appeal-able. The team, they had until 5pm yesterday to appeal. They’ve elected not to.”
“So, they have their truck back. And, getting prepared to go to Phoenix.
After the DQ, it changed the running order for some of the playoff competitors during the elimination race. After the DQ, Ben Rhodes and Nick Sanchez were tied for the final transfer spot in the championship race.
However, Ben Rhodes had two 2nd place finishes in the round, leaving the playoff eliminations unchanged from the original finishing order.
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