Zane Smith is back at Front Row Motorsports. The 25-year-old racer spent his rookie Cup Series season at Spire Motorsports but was let go at the end of the 2024 campaign. However, his days of free agency are now over, as the California native has signed a multi-year agreement with Bob Jenkins’ side and will pilot the No. 38 Ford as the team’s third driver in the upcoming season. It’s been quite a journey for the 2022 Truck Series winner, who is back to the team he describes as “home”.

Despite having a lackluster season in 2024, Smith is optimistic about his chances at Front Row Motorsports. The 25-year-old has outlined expectations for the upcoming campaign by making a bold claim about his car’s performance.

Zane Smith is aiming high at Front Row Motorsports

Front Row Motorsports has used its recent triumph in court to good use. The team, along with 23XI Racing, was recently granted a preliminary injunction, which allowed them to retain their existing charters for the 2025 season while allowing the sale of Stewart-Haas Racing’s charters to expand their Cup Series operations. Zane Smith was on loan from Trackhouse Racing to Spire Motorsports in 2024, but the team replaced him with Michael McDowell in the No. 71 car while Trackhouse inked a deal with Shane van Gisbergen. This left the California native without a ride for the upcoming season.

Front Row’s anti-trust lawsuit complicated matters, as there was a lack of clarity regarding the team’s charter situation. Reflecting on Zane Smith’s history, General Manager Jerry Freeze said, “It’s so ironic that a year and a half ago, Zane was driving for us.” After coming a full circle, the racing driver expressed his optimism about the upcoming campaign, saying, “You never know what could happen if you put yourself in contention. I believe speed will be there right away and I can’t wait for it. I think I definitely have some tracks circled of where you can really execute a good weekend that suits you.”

It’s not the first time Smith will be competing for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series. The driver featured in the 2023 season opener, the Daytona 500 in the team’s third entry, and made six appearances in the No. 38 Ford, replacing Todd Gilliland. However, the North Carolina native will be his teammate in the upcoming season, along with former Stewart-Haas Racing driver Noah Gragson and Smith couldn’t be happier.

Sharing his thoughts about the team, Zane Smith said, “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”. The racer didn’t start his rookie Cup Series season the way he would have wanted in 2024, finishing 25th or worse on eleven different occasions in the first 14 races. However, the 25-year-old turned his season around in the second half of the year, finishing runner-up at Nashville, seventh at Michigan, and fifth at Watkins Glen. He will hope to carry forward the momentum in the 2025 season as well.

Bob Jenkins expresses faith in Smith’s talent

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There’s no doubt Front Row Motorsports has faith in Zane Smith’s abilities. After all, the driver won the Truck Series with the team in 2022, winning four races in the process. Signing the California native is somewhat of a gamble for Bob Jenkins’ team, who are aiming to become consistent playoff contenders in the Cup Series. Five early retirements in 2024 and just two top-five results don’t paint a pretty picture for the racer, but the team’s owner is optimistic about his decision.

Sharing his thoughts about Smith taking over the team’s third seat, owner Bob Jenkins candidly said, “We want to welcome Zane back to Front Row Motorsports. He brought us our first championship and we believe that he can win in the NASCAR Cup Series, too. We have always believed in his talents, and we will work hard to give him what he needs to be successful. We have confidence in Zane. This finalizes our drivers for 2025 in the Cup Series and we can now make all our teams as strong as possible.”

It remains to be seen how well Zane Smith works with new crew chief Ryan Bergenty, who said, “He is an outstanding talent and brings a strong competitive spirit to the group.” The 25-year-old will be making his first Front Row appearance in 2025 with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2, followed by the Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 race two weeks later. Can Smith hit the ground running at Bob Jenkins’ team, or will his struggles continue at NASCAR’s highest level? Time will tell.