Stephen A. Smith’s NASCAR Comments Draw Unexpected Response From NFL Legend Chad Ochocinco

Stephen A. Smith’s comments about NASCAR drivers not being athletes have already sparked backlash from some of the biggest names in racing.

Now, an NFL legend is joining the conversation.

Former Cincinnati Bengals star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson recently climbed into a NASCAR stock car with 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney for the latest episode of NASCAR’s “On The Gas” video series. After experiencing nearly 180 mph from the passenger seat at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ochocinco had a direct response when asked about Smith’s controversial remarks.

His answer left little doubt where he stands.

Chad Ochocinco says Stephen A. Smith ‘doesn’t know what he’s talking about’

Smith ignited debate earlier this year after dismissing NASCAR drivers and golfers while discussing the greatest athletes of all time.

“Come on, man. That don’t count,” Smith said after Richard Petty’s name came up during the conversation. “You driving a car?”

He later doubled down.

“You can get behind the wheel of a car at 75 years old. That don’t count. That’s not the same. A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete. That’s just not true.”

After experiencing a high-speed ride with Blaney, Ochocinco had a much different perspective.

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about because he hasn’t been in here,” Ochocinco said after climbing out of the car.

“If Stephen A. Smith is to come out here and experience this in the passenger seat, and then how many cars on a race day? (40) It puts things into context and a better perspective on why they are athletes.

“Because this is life or death. Not the NFL, not the NBA. One wrong move can cost someone’s life. You have to be very athletic to be able to do what they do here.”

The comments carry extra weight because Ochocinco spent 11 seasons in the NFL and remains one of the most recognizable wide receivers of his generation.

Ochocinco joins a growing list defending NASCAR drivers

Ochocinco is far from the first person to challenge Smith’s take.

Former Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick blasted the ESPN personality shortly after the original comments surfaced.

“If you don’t know anything about racing, just keep your opinion to yourself because you shouldn’t even have an opinion if you don’t know anything about a sport,” Harvick said on “Speed with Harvick.”

He later added, “I think this is just an instance where Stephen A. Smith is looking for clicks on something he knows absolutely nothing about what he’s talking about.”

Unlike Harvick, however, Ochocinco approached the debate from outside the sport.

His opinion changed only after experiencing what a NASCAR driver experiences firsthand.

That perspective may be exactly why his response is resonating.

Instead of defending racing because he competed in it, Ochocinco defended it because he experienced just enough of it to understand what drivers face every weekend.