Stephen A. Smith has never been one to shy away from a controversial opinion, but his latest jab at NASCAR drivers and golfers has sparked a firestorm. During a segment on his radio show, the First Take host declared that race car drivers and golfers don't qualify as "athletes"—a statement that quickly went viral and drew sharp rebukes from the NASCAR community.
Smith's comments came in response to a caller who suggested Richard Petty as one of the greatest athletes of all time, while Smith was ranking LeBron James. "Come on, man. That don't count," Smith said. "You driving a car! I'm being honest, it's a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same. You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s, for crying out loud. A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete." He added, "Just because you gotta walk the course for 18 holes for four days, that don't make you an athlete. They're skilled players; they're elite at what they do. But athletes? Are you kidding me? If you're out there doing stuff that grandmas and grandpas can do, I'm not gonna look at you that way."
The backlash was immediate. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano didn't mince words, telling reporters on Saturday, "People like that have to make comments to stay relevant." Logano's retort echoed the sentiment of many in the sport who feel Smith's take dismisses the physical demands of racing—where drivers endure extreme G-forces, high temperatures, and intense concentration for hours on end. This isn't the first time Smith has stirred controversy; he's also faced criticism for his comments on other sports figures, including a recent 'turned on' remark to a WNBA star.
But the most pointed response came during Sunday's Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Longtime NASCAR announcer Mike Joy, a fixture in the booth for decades, used his platform to fire back—without directly naming Smith, though the target was unmistakable. "Earlier this week, a well-known online pundit said race car drivers are not athletes," Joy said during the broadcast. "I want to send him this sequence. And ask him to think about it." The moment was a powerful reminder of how deeply these comments cut within the NASCAR world, where drivers train like elite competitors and push their bodies to the limit every race weekend.
The debate over what defines an "athlete" is hardly new, but Smith's remarks have reignited it with a vengeance. While some might argue that driving a car doesn't require the same physical prowess as basketball or football, NASCAR insiders point to the grueling conditions inside the cockpit—temperatures can soar past 130 degrees, heart rates spike to levels seen in marathon runners, and drivers must maintain razor-sharp focus for three-plus hours. It's a far cry from the image of a leisurely Sunday cruise.
Smith, for his part, has shown no signs of backing down. Known for his provocative takes, he's built a career on stirring debate—whether it's about NBA legends or the athleticism of golfers. His comments have also drawn comparisons to other hot-button media moments, like the Fox Sports host's Bronny James rant that backfired recently. But in the NASCAR community, the consensus is clear: drivers deserve respect as athletes, and Joy's on-air rebuttal was a mic-drop moment that resonated with fans and insiders alike.
As the dust settles, one thing is certain: the next time Stephen A. Smith tunes into a NASCAR race, he might just see a few drivers proving him wrong—lap after lap, turn after turn, in the heat of competition.
