Tony Stewart Renegade Zane Smith Unprecedentedly Offers Truck Berth to ARCA Star

Ford is in trouble. Indeed, after losing a top prospect, the Blue Oval must be regretting its decision to let the young talent slip out of the clutches of Stewart-Haas Racing. Tony Stewart’s best drivers at this moment are Cole Custer and Riley Herbst. While Custer got demoted from the Cup Series after three bleak seasons, Herbst is yet to secure his first victory in the Xfinity Series. On top of that, Tony Stewart‘s Cup Series pilot Aric Almirola could retire after the current season. And everyone remembers, Kevin Harvick is transitioning to the FOX Sports television booth next year. So, what does that leave Tony Stewart with?

A frown on his forehead, maybe. When Zane Smith had to throw away his dreams of driving for Front Row Motorsports, rumors arose that Stewart-Haas Racing could be a good option for Smith to rely on for a Cup Series next year. But Justin Marks didn’t let that happen and signed Smith. Eventually, Marks saw his window of opportunity and leased Smith out to Spire Motorsports. Recently, seeing the driver’s seat of his #38 F-150 truck empty, the 24-year-old former FRM Truck driver named an able candidate.

Zane Smith named the probable heir to his Truck Series ride

What started off as a good day for ARCA West points leader and pole-sitter of the Star Nursery 150 Sean Hingorani, ended miserably. As the yellow flag came out for the 7th time, the audience witnessed fiery sparks emerging from underneath the right front of Hingorani’s number 15 car. Unfortunately, Hingorani had to drop back to the end of the field for not being able to maintain caution speed.

Luckily for Las Vegas’ hometown hero Dylan Cappello, the ball fell into his court. Seeing the leader getting caught up in car-related issues, Cappello seized the day by steering forth from P2 to grasp the lead.

What makes this feat more daunting is that Cappello, who is also the lead race engineer for Front Row Motorsports, hasn’t raced in the ARCA series since 2015 and he is already in the victory lane on his second West Series start with the number 88 Ford Mustang.

Zane Smith urged his ex-team to hire Cappello to drive his former ride. Smith said, “I think he would be a great candidate for the 38 truck next year. What do ya think @Team_FRM?”

Cappello, however, had a hard time believing that he and just won his first West Series victory. According to ARCA, he said, “Man it’s just crazy. This is just kind of a one-off deal, just come out to have fun with family and friends.”

“It turned into a win. It’s out of control. It’s crazy. I don’t even know what’s happening right now,” Cappello added exuberantly.

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While others might be busy notching up their level of expectations for this young racing talent, if one turned back the clock to last year, one would rejoice to see how Front Row Motorsports brought Zane Smith and Dylan Cappello together for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Front Row Motorsports; a place where the two friends united

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Dylan Cappello might have started off majorly as an engineer, but he is a driver at heart. Racing quarter midgets in the parking lot of Phoenix Raceway, Cappello had always wanted to indulge in the thrill of speed and the sound of revving engines. In his teenage days, Cappello used to fly to the West Coast to race where he met Smith for the first time. But funds ran out for Cappello, and Smith continued to pursue his career in racing.

However, Cappello was not ready to make a living off of a non-racing career. He got an engineering degree from Northern Arizona University, which landed him a job as a race engineer for Front Row Motorsports in 2020. It is then that the old friends reunited.

FRM gave the duo a dream-like chance of winning their first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship together at Phoenix Raceway, a racetrack, too close to Cappello.

According to azcentral.com, an ecstatic Cappello said, “I feel like you couldn’t write a better story. We’ve made huge strides with our program. Going to Phoenix with a shot this year is a huge leap and I feel like we have all the stuff in place and the tools to have a real shot at it.” Talk about a beautiful friendship!

Read More: Tony Stewart’s Mentee Becomes the Mentor as He Prepares to Take Kevin Harvick’s Mantle