Fourth-year NASCAR Cup Series driver Zane Smith needed a boost, and he found it on Saturday at the Talladega Superspeedway. After struggling this season without a top-five finish and not winning a national series race since 2023, Smith clocked an impressive qualifying lap of 52.564 seconds, beating runner-up Kyle Busch by more than a tenth of a second. This outstanding performance secured him the pole position for Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500, marking the first time in his Cup career that he will start from the inside of the front row.
Smith, the 2022 Truck Series champion, was quick to credit his team for the achievement. “I wish I could take a lot of credit for it, but, truthfully, it was a fast machine,” Smith told Prime. “A huge shout out to all these guys on the team. Super stoked for this. So cool.”
Meanwhile, other teams faced challenges. New Spire Motorsports’ crew chief Doug Powers encountered difficulties as his No. 7 chevrolet/”>Chevrolet failed two pre-qualifying inspections on Friday. Following the announcement of Rodney Childers parting ways with the organization earlier in the week, Powers was suspended for the weekend, leaving pit boss Ryan Sparks to lead the team on race day.
The event at Talladega is significant, not just for Zane Smith, but for the entire field, which experienced the largest crash in NASCAR Cup Series history last year at the same venue. As fans eagerly await the race, Smith’s pole position introduces an exciting dynamic, setting him up for potential success in the upcoming competition.
Securing his first pole position, Zane Smith not only boosts his own confidence but also serves as a vital reminder of the unpredictable nature of NASCAR. With the race weekend ahead, all eyes will be on Talladega as Smith and his team aim for their first victory of the season.
