Zane Smith, who competes full-time in the Zane Smith NASCAR Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports, is approaching the final stretch of the season with increased optimism after securing a third-place finish last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Smith believes this result injects new momentum into his campaign, setting up both him and his team for a potential first NASCAR Cup Series win with just seven races remaining this year.
Bristol Run Inspires Confidence for the Final Stretch
Smith’s performance in the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Bristol marked an important shift for the team, following a difficult period marked by multiple incidents. The finish not only rewarded their perseverance but stoked anticipation for what lies ahead as the Cup Series season approaches its close. He spoke candidly about the changes this brings, referencing the team’s hard work and the impact such a strong result can have on morale and focus.
“I think it was a great result for myself and our whole team, and I think it will allow us to really just build some good momentum to not only end this year and hopefully score that first win we’ve been looking for, but something to just build off of and some excitement for the offseason. I feel like we’ve had some great runs this year, but last month was just really mean to us, getting wrecked I think like three weeks in a row, so I don’t believe we’re where we need to be in the points. I think I’m 27th or something like that, but runs like we had on Saturday night are what I feel we deserve and it was great to finally have one of those.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Target Tracks and Upcoming Goals
Smith is clear-eyed about the opportunities presented by the upcoming races, mentioning several tracks where both he and his crew feel confident. Emphasizing the modified racing backgrounds of many team members, he sees the schedule ahead—featuring venues like New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kansas, Las Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville—as fertile ground for that elusive win.
“I think there are some great tracks coming up for us. Some that come to mind, Loudon. I feel pretty much my whole entire team has in some way, some form, a modified background, so I’m excited for this weekend. Kansas, Vegas, Martinsville, Talladega is in there, Phoenix we had a great run in the top 10 earlier in the year, so I definitely feel we can go get our first win of the year. We just need to execute on one of these weekends.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Adapting to Challenges at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Looking ahead to the New Hampshire event, Smith recognizes the nuances of racing at Loudon, referencing challenges like the track’s notorious bumps and unpredictable conditions. His limited experience at the facility—combined with past weather interruptions—makes preparation more complex, but his focus remains on leveraging improved qualifying performance and strategy to gain an advantage.
“My list is gonna be small, like I said, because this will only be my second time ever there, but it’s a really bumpy place. I feel like it’s underrated with how bumpy it really is, so your ability to get through the bumps and keep a well-handling car is super important. And then even last year I spent half of the race in the rain, so I think I was second-quick or something like that in practice and my car drove pretty good at that time, and then in the race I just had something completely different. 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, so we’re kind of trying to take some notes from what we’ve had at Iowa and Gateway maybe, where we’ve had this tire, so I’m excited to see what it brings.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Learning from Past Experiences and Team Dynamics
The team’s ability to assess data from previous New Hampshire appearances is tempered by transitions between teams and varying notes. Smith highlights how working with a different crew can alter the interpretation of prior results but remains optimistic thanks to the strong showing his present group had at the venue last year.
“I just think the experience that I got there and the time I had in the dry will be important to remember and look back on, but I’m with a different team now, so I can’t really look through those notes on what was good for me and what wasn’t, but I know the 38 group ran pretty well there last year, so hopefully it translates.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Utilizing Technology and Staying Lighthearted
Smith shed some light on how technology is infusing a new dynamic into the sport, both as a tool for competition and a source of personal amusement. While advanced AI systems like ChatGPT are being experimented with by engineers and have sparked inside jokes among teammates, the primary use for Smith so far has been for photo editing and keeping the atmosphere light within Front Row Motorsports.
“It’s so funny you asked that because I just downloaded ChatGPT and I have been addicted with the photo editing. We have a joke that my teammate, Noah, is short and so I made him shrink to like two-feet tall in this picture of Todd and I and him. Honestly, in a joking way I guess I’ve used it, but I’m sure that it’s used upstairs throughout the engineers in some way or form. I know that my crew chief has joked about it, that he’s used it on some things. I’m not exactly sure what, but it is insane on how fast and how it knows everything.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Restart Performance and Tire Strategies
The importance of restarts and strategic tire management came to the forefront during the Bristol race, with Smith attributing his competitive run to decisions made on pit road and in traffic. Recounting his composure under pressure and the value of his team’s approach, he described the shifting track conditions and the split-second choices that shaped his night.
“Passing is made on restarts, pit road. I feel like those are your main opportunities because everyone runs the same pace in that middle portion of the run it seems, unless you’re at a really wore out place. Even at time at that, we’re still somehow running the same lap times, but I felt all night what I was doing on restarts and my tire cleaning was working out pretty well for me. Everyone that I lined up behind, whether I was in third or fourth, I felt like I was rolling to their bumper more so than the guys that I had seen and, fortunately, that last one was a pretty good one. I tried getting in there and pretty much all of the restarts before that, especially once everyone started having their tire issues, once they were cleaning the track they blow the marbles into the PJ1 and so that bottom lane hits it. When you’re the leader, you’re the first to clean it up and so I just got super tight right then and you’re pretty much loose and out of the racetrack it seems for the next lap or two, and we were on older tires. I think just a product of that and two guys going for their first Cup win.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Reflecting on his approach to restarts over the course of the race, Smith emphasized that sometimes refining a working process isn’t necessary. His comfort in sticking with what brought results kept him sharp and consistent as the laps wound down.
“I actually just recognized it like the middle portion of the race, once we kept restarting in those first couple rows, I knew my restarts had been pretty strong, so I didn’t want to change anything up from a tire-cleaning process and what I was doing with my launch, so it was working out for me and sometimes when you have those things you don’t really want to change it up.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Kansas and Other Key Races Ahead
Looking beyond New Hampshire, Smith is particularly eager for races at tracks like Kansas, where he has an established fondness and history of competitive runs in both Cup and lower series. Recalling prior adversity at Kansas—having started deep in the field due to incidents, yet driving into contention—he believes these tracks, with their worn surfaces and multiple lines, align with his driving style and the team’s setup philosophy.
“Even when I was in truck or anything, I have always been so excited for Kansas. Kansas, Homestead, Darlington, those are probably my favorite racetracks. I feel like with the package and things that have worked for us this year, that style of mile-and-a-half, where it’s kind of wore out, you can run the fence, you can move around some, those have been great places for us. Thinking back on Kansas, that was probably one of the best cars I’ve had this year. We had to start in the back from blowing a tire in practice and had some diffuser wear, so I had to start in the back and drove inside the top 10 in the first stage. Man, I really liked my car there, so hopefully we can improve on that a little bit and get another shot at it.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Confidence Rising and Building on Recent Results
Smith openly discussed the ebb and flow of confidence throughout the year. After several setbacks—often while running strongly—he and his crew are now buoyed by recent qualifying and race performances, including improved showings at Gateway, Darlington, and Martinsville. These results are especially meaningful when compared against teams with greater resources and playoff ambitions, validating the progress made by Front Row Motorsports.
“I feel the confidence is there and I just feel like the excitement has been boosted now that we’re closing in on the end of the year, so we’re all eager to hopefully get a win before the year is over, and then just runs like we’ve been having – like qualifying in the top 10 at Gateway, rebounding in Darlington after just a bad stretch of races of just mishaps. When those happened, I think I was wrecked inside the top 10 every single time. Indy could have been another top five day. Dover, I think I lined up eighth and I was the first one on four tires. That’s what’s frustrating is I feel this stretch of good races should have lasted a little bit longer and started a little bit sooner, but it brings a level of excitement that we get to go try again at these places that we learned a little bit from the beginning of the year. One I forgot to mention was Martinsville. I had a great car at Martinsville and my old team, myself, we love that place and I feel like that’s another great opportunity to go win at, but I feel what we’re doing against these playoff guys – with them bringing the best of the best stuff that they’ve got – and to qualify up there and ultimately race up there all race long says a lot about my group and everyone at FRM. Hopefully, we can keep that going for seven more.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Approaching Unique Circuits Like the Roval
The NASCAR schedule’s diversity of tracks presents unique challenges each week. Smith acknowledged the complexity of road courses like the Roval, contrasting it with the more familiar layouts of Watkins Glen and Sonoma. While historically not his strongest circuit, he’s aiming for improvement, using his background on road courses as a foundation and noting the intensity the Roval brings, especially for playoff contenders.
“In my opinion, it’s a lot different and, to be honest, the Roval has just not been a good place for me. I struggle there in a sense. Hopefully, this year goes a little better, but it’s chaos and there’s a lot going on for those playoff guys because it’s a cut off for them. It would be great to have a good run at home for us, but in the past it hasn’t been great to me, but, yes, I did grow up on road courses and I really enjoy them. I need to say the same hopefully here soon about the Roval.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Tire Management and Strategic Race Execution
Smith’s late model racing roots continue to serve him well, particularly in the demanding tire management races that are a specialty of certain Cup Series events. His recollections of the Bristol race are marked by memories of conservation, long-run strength, and the interaction with his crew chief when deciding how far to stretch a set of tires. This tactical approach made the race especially enjoyable for Smith, blending skill and patience.
“Yeah, it’s funny you bring that up. This past weekend that brought back so many memories of super late model days, where you just couldn’t always bolt on a set of tires. We were at the end of the day going through them fast, but it was all just about saving and managing and managing your track position and then it came down to your crew chief telling you when he wanted to pit, or when you were getting close to your number and he would kind of turn the ball over to me and say, ‘Hey, this is on you now on how long you think you can last here on this set,’ so we tried to subtract that. That first run I didn’t feel any of those cords coming and all of a sudden it happened, and then after that I just went into that mode of trying to manage and save and I felt my team did a great job of painting a picture for me too about how this race is gonna play out and if you save here where it’s gonna benefit you. It worked out for us, but I really enjoyed it. That was probably one of the most fun Bristol races I’ve ever had, regardless of if we had a really good finish or not. It was still a fun night. With that said, it was a lot of fun, especially to see those guys that would come and go, especially when you were good on a long run, where my car was pretty good. That’s always a lot of fun when those guys fall off a little bit more.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
In-Race Decision-Making and the Bigger Picture
In the midst of rapidly evolving races, Smith underscores the importance of situational awareness and understanding the broader strategy. He recounted moments at Bristol when calls from the pit box and dynamic positions on track required him to make quick choices, balancing the urge to push with the need to execute the team’s plan effectively.
“I’m trying to put myself in his shoes and trying to understand what the end goal is here because you see guys peeling off in front of you and then there are guys that are like two laps down buzzing by you and it’s hard. You only see so many feet in front of you at Bristol and a lot of things are happening fast, so you’re just trying to wrap your head around on what’s happening there, but one example was Joey and I, I was the leader at that time and he was second and I got told like, ‘Hey, we need five more,’ and I think I ran at least 10 and I’m like, ‘How long do you want me to go? I think I can get at least maybe eight more good ones,’ and he let me run three and then called me down. There are a lot of things that I don’t see, but I try to do my best at really understanding the bigger picture.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
The Team’s New Hampshire Roots and Modified Heritage
Smith credits much of his crew’s expertise to their backgrounds in modified and open-wheel racing, particularly among those hailing from near New Hampshire. Notable mentors and spotters like Ryan Flores, Ryan Bergenty, and Ryan Blanchard all bring experience from that region and discipline, creating a shared bond and knowledge base that is especially relevant for the Loudon event.
“A lot of them are from up there near New Hampshire, just modified racing and really, I guess, open-wheel style of racing. I’m sure a lot of the guys on my team will be having hero card requests throughout the weekend – more than myself, especially now that Ryan Flores is on our team. Ryan Bergenty came from that background, my spotter, Ryan Blanchard came from that background. I think his cousin races modifieds. Just a lot of our guys have been involved in it.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
The Unique Atmosphere of Racing at Loudon
For Smith and his colleagues, visiting New Hampshire means competing in front of some of the sport’s most dedicated fans. The culture and enthusiasm in the region stand out, with the tradition of racing for the iconic lobster trophy adding special meaning to the race.
“I feel this about a lot of different places we go. It’s not just Loudon, but I will say those are real NASCAR fans, or just real racing fans. There are some places you go where it’s a really big track, but it’s a different style of fan, I feel like. These fans that we get to go see in New Hampshire they watch racing every weekend, not just when NASCAR comes into town two weeks a year. It’s cool to have races like that and I think it’s an awesome trophy. Everyone wants to hold that lobster.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Mental Fortitude and Team Resilience
Throughout the challenges of the season, Smith has leaned into his role as team leader, emphasizing that his approach mirrors that of a quarterback—keeping everyone motivated despite setbacks. By focusing on what’s within their control and responding to adversity with renewed determination, the No. 38 group continues to set and pursue ambitious goals.
“I feel like that’s your role. I feel like we’re almost like that quarterback role to where you’ve got to keep your whole group and whole team excited and motivated. It’s a long year and what makes that easy is because at least when we did get wrecked we were running inside the top 10 and battling for a great finish. If we were running 35th and we get right hooked, everyone is just gonna be mad and over it. Fortunately, that was the situation for us, but my whole team is easy to work with in that way to where we’re all hungry. We all are paying attention to what actually happened and what’s out of our control and what is in our control, and all of those were out of my control. Everyone just put their heads down and went back to work. When you have a good finish rebounding from that it always feels that much better.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
He also advocates the importance of perseverance, suggesting that navigating through tough times contributes to greater personal and team growth.
“I’m just a big believer in hard times build tougher people. I think through racing and doing this for a living, not only as a driver, but in any role in racing you’re going to experience so many ups and downs, but regardless, even at the high I feel just keeping a level head goes a long way and you just let your lows get too low. With that, I feel like that’s how we’ve been able to rebound.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Competition Among Peers and Smaller Teams
The recent Bristol race underscored the competitiveness of the current Cup Series environment, with multiple drivers and teams contending for top spots. Smith acknowledged that for an organization like Front Row Motorsports, running against powerhouse teams, each strong finish accelerates development and drives belief in their trajectory.
“Yeah, for sure. That’s the positive to all of this. I think definitely when we have a tire like that to where it catches people by surprise and it’s whoever manages the chaos the most, those are great races for us and those are opportunities for us to go get a race win or get a good finish like we did. I think I left there with forty-something points, which is awesome for us. We’re a smaller team and we’re going up against guys that have a ton of resources. I’m not saying that FRM won’t be there one day, but it takes time to get there, but runs like that, like we had, definitely speeds up the process.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Support from Friends and Teammates
Another factor buoying Smith’s mindset is the camaraderie he shares with his teammates, Noah and Todd. These friendships, combined with time spent away from racing topics, help maintain a positive atmosphere regardless of results and foster a sense of belonging that carries through the challenges of a NASCAR season.
“Yeah, sure. I feel good run or bad run, in all of our cases I feel like we’re always hanging out on Monday and that’s what you get when you have two of your best friends as your teammates. Ultimately, I think it just takes your mind off of it. Everyone has their different thing that they may do to get their mind off of it and, to be honest, when Noah and Todd and I, even other guys we race with, we’re rarely talking about racing. That’s cool to have teammates like that. It’s been a lot of fun working with them this year and hopefully we can continue that.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Focusing on Small Details and Improving with Experience
For Smith, the pursuit of improved results is anchored in ongoing personal and professional development. He highlights refining execution during practice, qualifying, and race day, constantly evaluating what separates a good performance from a great one. Gaining experience at each track is crucial as he seeks better pit road entries, tire strategies, and overall adaptability.
“I think just trying to be better at the little things and looking at the bigger picture. There were a lot of times, even when we were struggling, where you run really good at a point in the race and then I would often catch myself at the end of the race with not a good result and someone I was racing with all race long is in the top five, top 10, and I kind of spent some time studying how they got there and what it takes to do that, and ultimately it’s I think being smarter, understanding all of the different roles to make a better weekend, and I think a lot of that starts on Saturdays of just practicing and qualifying better. Qualifying good goes such a far way. I feel we’ve done a great job of that with our practice and a few qualifying adjustments which is in such a short period of time, and then I feel our adjustments from Saturday to Sunday even have been great as well. When you have that, you just start ahead when the race starts and you don’t get caught a lap down. You’re just ahead more and then there’s always gonna be things that you just naturally get better at. You’re gonna get better at being more aggressive in the right ways on restarts – towards the end of the race when is the right time when is not the right time – and just experience of going to these places. I feel every year I go back to a racetrack I’m better in some way and that’s maybe getting onto pit road, knowing how the track changes. There are so many different things, so just trying to understand all of that and apply it.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Maintaining Patience and Perspective
The journey to success in the Zane Smith NASCAR Cup Series has tested Smith’s patience, especially during stretches without wins. He openly discusses the internal questioning and pressure of those moments and the role that data and analysis play in identifying opportunities for improvement. Positive weekends provide reassurance that a breakthrough is within reach.
“You get warned about that. The conversations get brought up of like maybe you going to race on Sunday and you could go through a stretch there without winning something and it takes a toll on you. ‘Can I still do this? Do I still stay as locked in as I did?’ You question why it’s not happening, but fortunately we have a lot of data and analytics of looking at where we can improve and maybe circling more than one reason of why we’re not, and I think we’re thankful for that because that can just naturally take a toll on a driver. It was a good reminder on Saturday that I feel I still can win. Once that caution fell I was incredibly locked in and just ready for the restart. Those are things on Monday night’s you lay in bed and it’s like, ‘Man, can I still do it?’ So, runs like that just boost the confidence in a way of like, ‘OK, I still can, we just need a few more things to go our way.’”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Nerves, Preparation, and the Pressure of Opportunity
As Smith regularly finds himself near the front of Cup races—whether on the front row or deeper in the field—he acknowledges that the stakes of trying for a first series win heighten emotions and mental calculations. He describes the flood of thoughts that come as the opportunity to clinch a victory emerges, believing that with more repetition at the front of the field, comfort and focus naturally increase.
“To be honest, there’s a lot more you’re thinking about. A lot of the wins that we take as a smaller team or your first couple years in Cup are like top 10 days in the Cup Series. Those are a great day and that needs to be celebrated and there needs to be some excitement behind that, but, man, when you’re trying to get your first win in the Cup Series of something you just wanted to be in for your whole life and then the opportunity is right in front of you and it’s gonna be settled in a couple minutes, there’s a lot of things running through your head. Pretty much everything I’ve known in my career I need to funnel it down to right now and see how I can possibly execute this race win.’ I knew it was gonna be an uphill battle. Carson and I were both on older tires. Up front we had guys right behind us on fresh tires. Our bed was already made, but that doesn’t mean we ain’t gonna go down with a fighting chance. I felt that I executed mainly the things I felt I could control, I just think being in that position, the more times you are the calmer you naturally are and your mind goes to the right place more often times than not.”
– Zane Smith, Driver
He compares the moment-to-moment processing during late-race restarts to a football player facing a transformative moment in the Super Bowl, noting the fleeting nature of such opportunities and the intense desire to capitalize when they appear.
“I don’t know if you would call it nerves. You naturally are in that scenario. You want to compare it to football. If a kid has played football his whole entire life and dreams of going to the Super Bowl and then he has the chance to throw the winning pass in the Super Bowl, those things are gonna run through your head like, ‘I’ve worked for this all my life and the opportunity is right here. Who knows if I’ll have this opportunity again.’ I don’t know about everyone else, but those things run through my head at some point in time and so yeah, at that point you’re just processing it. I don’t think about it and stay thinking about it, it just naturally pops up in my head of, ‘Alright, the opportunity is right here, right now. What can I do to execute this?’”
– Zane Smith, Driver
Anticipation Builds as Season Winds Down
With the Zane Smith NASCAR Cup Series season drawing to its final seven races, both Smith and the Front Row Motorsports crew are energized by recent results and the belief that a breakthrough win is possible. Looking to capitalize on tracks that play to their strengths, and with renewed confidence, the team is determined to keep building momentum. The experiences gained through adversity, teamwork, and self-improvement form the foundation of their pursuit, as eyes turn to upcoming races like New Hampshire, Kansas, and beyond.
The coming weeks will test Smith’s resolve and adaptability across a range of circuits, but if the energy and commitment displayed so far are any indication, a maiden win in the NASCAR Cup Series could well be just over the horizon.
