Disgruntled Spire Motorsports Rookie Confesses Banking on Watkins Glen Powerplay Amid Murky NASCAR Future

What a result for Zane Smith! The Spire Motorsports rookie surprised everybody with a top-five finish at Watkins Glen International, a significant milestone in his short career as a full-time Cup Series driver. The 25-year-old may not be in the playoffs, but he is fighting for something much more important: his future in the Cup Series. Could this result be enough to impress potential employers to take a chance on Smith for the 2025 season? The rookie seems to think so.

With eight races remaining before the season comes to an end, time is running out for Zane Smith to prove his talent at NASCAR’s highest level. However, a fifth-place finish at Watkins Glen is exactly what he needs to do on a more consistent basis if he hopes to secure a seat for next year.

Zane Smith rues silly mistake despite impressive result

Zane Smith’s immense talent is undeniable. He finished second at Nashville Superspeedway and seventh in Michigan, but his biggest struggles this season come from a lack of consistency. He progressed into the Cup Series directly from the Craftsman Truck Series, after finishing an impressive season with Front Row Motorsports in 2023. However, whether it’s because of poor equipment, bad luck, or difficulty in adapting to the demands at the highest level, the reality is that Smith hasn’t set the world alight in the 28 races he has competed in so far while being behind the wheel of his No. 71 Chevy.

If his performance at Watkins Glen is anything to go by, it seems like Smith may have finally turned a corner. The 25-year-old drove with maturity and experience beyond his years, succeeding on a track where more established superstars have struggled over the years. Speaking to Frontstretch’s Phil Allaway, Smith outlined the reasons for his performance by saying, “Just an incredibly fast car. Just mad at myself for my mistake in the middle of the race but fortunately the car was good enough to get back through there. Just kind of got roughing up there in the end and I feel I could have cost us a couple of more spots. All in all, a really good car. I wish we almost had another restart at it to try a couple of more.” When asked if the top-five result will help bring him under the spotlight for potential employers, the rookie said, “Yep, no doubt.”

What makes Zane Smith’s result even more impressive is the fact that despite finishing 19th in qualifying, he showed steady progress throughout the race, a testament to his mental strength. Smith finished the first stage in 18th place and climbed four spots by the end of Stage 2 to end up 13th. If that wasn’t all, he also overcame a speeding penalty to climb up the grid under immense pressure to finish in the top five. The result indicates that he has the mindset to compete at the highest level, but can he back it up with consistent performances?

All things considered, it was a happy day for Spire Motorsports, as all three of their drivers were in the top 10. Carson Hocevar secured his best result of the season, finishing the race in third place, while Corey LaJoie ended up eighth. Michael McDowell, who is set to replace Zane Smith on the racing team, also secured an impressive seventh-place result and was seen having a heated exchange of words with Zane Smith after the race, following a fiery battle on track.

Smith and McDowell engaged in a verbal spat after the Watkins Glen race

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Tensions were running high at Watkins Glen International, particularly between Zane Smith and Michael McDowell. With both drivers hoping to make it into the top five on the road course, the rivalry turned into a full-contact battle between the two drivers during the final overtime restart. The altercations began when Smith door-slammed McDowell, forcing the Trackhouse Racing driver up the racetrack before the 39-year-old returned the favor, slamming into Smith’s No. 71 Chevy while going into Turn 1.

With the checkered flag coming closer, desperate times led to desperate measures for Zane Smith. The 25-year-old hit the rear bumper of McDowell’s No. 34 Ford Mustang, sending him up the track once again. Ultimately, it was the Cup Series rookie who emerged victorious after a heated exchange, finishing the race two spots higher than his Trackhouse Racing rival.

Zane Smith will now hope to keep his momentum going in the 500-lap race at Bristol Motor Speedway. With the California native fighting for his Cup Series future, every race counts to finish the season strongly and impress his potential employers. While a verbal spat between two drivers is never a pretty sight, Smith needs to keep his fighting spirit alive in the upcoming races, given that his career is at stake. Whether he has a future at NASCAR’s highest level remains to be seen, but if his performance at Watkins Glen is anything to go by, Smith isn’t going out without giving it everything that he’s got.