Zane Smith NASCAR Plot Twist: When Zane Smith joined Trackhouse Racing, it was a surprise turn in the NASCAR story for this year. Smith had a great season in the Craftsman Truck Series with Front Row Motorsports. In 10 of the 20 races, he ended in the top five. Everyone was surprised by the move. Even Justin Marks, known for being outspoken about his racing, decided not to say anything about this change. Still, anything can happen any time in NASCAR, so twists and turns are familiar.
People were surprised when Justin Marks said nothing about growing Trackhouse Racing to have three cars by 2024. His plan for the future? To learn more about Project 91 and make deals with competitors to get better at circle tracks. This decision was made after making a big deal with Shane van Gisbergen, who runs the Chicago Street Course.
But in a surprising change of events, Zane Smith, who used to drive for Ford, will now drive Marks’ third car in 2024. Smith’s first NASCAR Cup Series race will be led by Spire Motorsports, which just spent $40 million to buy a big license from Live Fast Motorsports. Smith is still working on breaking up with everyone, though. He will stay in touch with the Trackhouse crew as long as he works at Spire.
Trackhouse Racing is laying the groundwork for its extensive growing plans now that Smith is on board. At the same time, Marks says that Spire Motorsports is preparing to work with a “challenger team.” This is good news for Trackhouse Racing and Chevrolet but bad news for Ford. They are in a terrible position since Smith left, who was their best hope outside of the Cup Series.
But the story has changed like this before. Smith used to race in the 2020 and 2021 Chevrolet Truck Series for GMS Racing. He moved to FRM in 2022.
Ford’s situation is worsening because their new talent list is getting smaller. This is especially true compared to Chevrolet and Toyota, whose talent pools are overflowing. In the Xfinity Series, the best places for Chevrolet drivers to start are JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Kaulig Racing. For Toyota drivers, the best place to start is Joe Gibbs Racing. On the other hand, Ford only has four ThorSport Racing cars, two SHR cars, and one FRM truck left in the series. Their one FRM truck driver, who wanted to advance in the company, has gone.
Ford is in an adamant position now that Smith has left. But Zane Smith is sure he is ready for the next journey, even with all the noise.
In 2024, Zane Smith will say goodbye to his time with Ford and return to the Chevrolet team. Trackhouse Racing Team announced an exciting partnership: Smith will drive for Spire Motorsports all season in a third NASCAR Cup Series car.
Before he joined Ford and Front Row Motorsports in 2022, Smith had great success with Chevrolets. He finished second in points with GMS Racing in both 2020 and 2021. He showed how well he could change when he won his first game with the Blue Oval and helped them win the title. The No. 38 car is currently seventh in the points standings. It has won two races so far.
Smith has had a lot of success in the truck series. Still, his short runs in the Cup Series with FRM, especially his impressive eighth-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600 in May, show his talent. As soon as he starts working with a new maker and team, everyone will watch this master of the Truck Series, eager to see what he does next.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who is Zane Smith’s father?
Hailing from Huntington Beach, California, Smith is the offspring of Mike Smith, the mastermind behind the renowned Herbst-Smith Fabrication off-road racing team.
Who is Zane Smith crew chief?
The team’s Nos. 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s will be led by crew chiefs Stephen Doran and Luke Lambert, respectively. Doran will be in charge of guiding 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) Champion Zane Smith, while Lambert will serve as crew chief for the impressive Carson Hocevar.
Who does Zane Smith drive for in the truck series?
Smith, who previously drove for Ford and even won the 2022 Truck Series championship while with Front Row Motorsports, is now switching gears to Chevrolet. Both organizations are now under his belt, marking a new chapter in his racing career.
Who won the Truck Series Championship?
In a thrilling overtime race at Phoenix, Ben Rhodes emerged victorious and clinched the NASCAR Truck Series championship. The event was nothing short of wild, with the drivers pushing themselves to the limit. Despite the intense competition, Rhodes managed to stay ahead of the pack and secure his well-deserved win. The atmosphere was electric as fans cheered on their favorite drivers, making for an unforgettable experience. Rhodes’ triumph is a testament to his skill and determination, and he can now proudly call himself a NASCAR champion.
