As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season is nearing its end, the drivers left without a ride for the next season are getting more and more anxious. The list includes drivers like Corey LaJoie and Zane Smith. Spire Motorsports kicked LaJoie for his poor stats, remaining winless in 4 years with the team. This comes as Spire Motorsports is on a revamp journey for the next season.

As for Smith, he was expecting to return to the Cup in the third car recently fielded by Trackhouse Racing, but the team chose Shane van Gisbergen over him. This comes after Gisbergen, in his debut Xfinity Series in 2024, bagged three wins before getting eliminated from the round of 12. Well, if stats are compared, the Kiwi is a clear choice over Smith. However, since Zane Smith’s parting announcement has come, his stats have improved dramatically. Recently NASCAR analyst Eric Esstepp revealed a shocking comparison.

Zane Smith’s mid-season comeback in 2024

Smith had a splendid season in the 2022 Truck Series. The 25-year-old first won the regular season championship before also winning the driver’s championship. It was the first title for him and Front Row Motorsports. Carrying the momentum into the 2023 season, he finished 7th after bagging 2 wins, 10 top 5s, and 10 top 10s. His consistency had Trackhouse sign him for the 2024 Cup Season. The youngster drove for Spire Motorsports, which is in alliance with Trackhouse. However, Smith’s Cup series debut so far did not go as he’d hoped.

After a P6 at the season opener Daytona, things went downhill for the California native. In the first 19 races, he only managed a single top-10 finish. However, surprisingly, things changed after the Nashville race, where Zane Smith finished in P2 behind Team Penske’s Joey Logano. In the last fifteen races, Smith managed to get 3 top-10s and 2 top-5 finishes. His poor stats in the initial races of the season led to his sacking. However, Smith decided to change gears post that. In the parting statement, Smith said, “I will continue to do what I know best and that is to work hard, race my heart out, and prove myself.” And that’s exactly what he’s done!

In a recent video, NASCAR analyst Eric Estepp analyzed Smith’s average finish in the last 15 races. According to Estepp, “It’s been 15 races since that second-place run at Nashville and during that span Zane Smith has an average finish of 15.9. That’s really good that’s almost two positions better than Joey Logano’s average finish this season and Joey Logano just advanced to the championship 4. Zane Smith has turned his rookie year around in a big way it’s like at some point over the summer a switch flipped.”

While Logano is the first finalist of the 2024 season, Smith currently sits in the 30th position in the standings. However, if you compare their average finishes in the last 15 races, Logano is trailing. The two-time NASCAR Cup Champion has an average finish of 16.9 as opposed to Smith’s 15.9. And not just Logano, even defending champion and 2024 championship contender, Ryan Blaney is behind Smith with a 16.5 average finish in the last 15 races.

And Smith’s stats just keep getting better as the season progresses. In the last 6 races, his average finish has been 14.5 whereas that of Logano is 16.5. This is a commendable turnaround from what was looking like a disappointing season at the start. Despite this, his 2025 NASCAR season remains uncertain. Would he continue in the Cup or face a demotion? It remains to be seen!

Where could Zane Smith go in the 2025 season?

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With Ross Chastain as a strong contender to win a championship for Trackhouse in the future, Daniel Suarez’s decent runs this year, and SVG’s recent success in the Xfinity Series, there is no place left for the 25-year-old in Trackhouse’s Cup lineup. However, if we compare the last fifteen race stats amongst the teammates, Smith comes on top here as well. Ross Chastain’s average finish has been 17.1 whereas that of Suarez is 16.7 in the last 15.

While there is no room in Trackhouse, Smith could find a ride in his old team. Front Row Motorsports has also shown willingness to field a third car in 2025  and Smith could prove to be the perfect choice for it. FRM is already impressed by Smith’s Truck Series performance and now, with the recent consistency, things could work in Smith’s favor.

Recently, even Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass dwelled on the same subject. Pockrass was on Kevin Harvick’s Podcast, ‘Happy Hour’, where he said, “You look at Front Row and 23XI, they intend to run three cars. They say they’re going to run three cars. What’s going to happen? We still don’t know the way the litigation will proceed and how they will respond to it. I still think Zane Smith is the leader for the third Font Row car.”However, until the NASCAR lawsuit is settled, things might remain uncertain for Zane Smith.

Where do you think he will end up in the 2025 season? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.