Zane Smith, 25, is back at Front Row Motorsports, the same team that helped him win the 2022 Truck Series title. However, this came about after Smith had to deal with betrayal from the team that had given him high hopes and aspirations. Smith was driving the No. 71 Chevrolet and was with Spire Motorsports, which was in turn in partnership with Trackhouse Racing. Although Smith did everything he could in his rookie season with Trackhouse Racing at the Cup Series, finishing four times in the top ten and twice in the top five, he was left stranded during the silly season.
Smith will compete in the 2025 Cup Series even though he was let go from Trackhouse Racing.
Smith signed a deal with Trackhouse Racing for 2024, with the expectation that it would be extended for the 2025 campaign as well. But things didn’t work out, and Smith was fired when the organization decided to move forward with Shane Van Gisverden. Smith had managed to account for an average finish of 23.194 in 36 races during the 2025 season. Additionally, he would not have been able to keep up with Ford because he currently had no other offers. “I had no other Cup offers to stay at Ford,” Smith remarked in reference to Justin Mark’s Trackhouse Racing’s abrupt decision.
I had no idea that there were alternatives. It goes without saying that things would have turned out differently if I had realized that our plans wouldn’t work out and that some of our promises wouldn’t be fulfilled. At this point, Smith also started negotiating a new contract with Front Row Motorsports. However, Front Row Motorsports’ inability to obtain the charter from Stewart Haas Racing would affect their overall status because they are now embroiled in a NASCAR lawsuit. Front Row Motorsports did, however, win the case and reinstate Smith in the Cup Series. “I feel like I’ve lost three years of my life this year,” he stated, referring to the same thing.
It was an odd circumstance when I was fired, and while life isn’t always fair, it wasn’t fair. When Bob Jenkins, the owner of the FRM squad, texted me to ask if I was scheduled for next year, I replied, “I just got fired.” “I assumed he was only interested in discussing the Truck Series, but after exchanging emails and seeing what he was putting together, I signed within a week,” he continued. Although I don’t know enough about the litigation to comment, I was aware enough at the time to see that the charter issues were becoming tense. “Man, I can’t catch a break here,” was my thought after FRM and 23XI filed the complaint.
After being let go by Trackhouse Racing, Smith was left in a difficult situation because no other Cup Series teams were making offers. He was left frantically trying to figure out how to get back into competitive racing because he had few options and his future was unknown. At this point, Bob Jenkins turned out to be his savior and helped him get back on the track for the 2025 season. For Front Row Motorsports, winning the final trial was crucial, especially since all of the paperwork for the charter acquisition from Stewart Haas Racing had already been completed.
This is precisely what made it possible for Front Row to hire Zane Smith on a full-time basis and acquire a third vehicle for the season. “We want to welcome Zane back to Front Row Motorsports,” said Bob Jenkins, the company’s owner, in reference to the decision. He helped us win our first title, and we think he can do the same in the NASCAR Cup Series. We will put in a lot of effort to provide him with the resources he needs to succeed because we have always valued his abilities. Zane is someone we trust. This completes our 2025 Cup Series drivers, allowing us to assemble the strongest teams imaginable. Given that the chance had arrived, even Zane Smith appeared to be thrilled about it at a time when he would almost be rendered teamless.
Just in time! “Now, going into next year, Front Row has really taken their Cup program to another level and I cannot think of a better lineup of teammates,” Smith added, acknowledging the chance he was given. I’m good friends with Todd Gilliland and Noah Griffin, and as rookie Cup Series drivers, we all have a lot to prove. Now is a fantastic moment for me to return and further develop my career with a company I know I can succeed in. Practice and efficiency could prove to be important for Smith, who placed 30th in the Cup Series standings in his debut.
