Zane Smith, who has three wins so far during the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, will return for the full 2023 NASCAR Truck Series season with the Front Row Motorsports team.
Additionally, Smith will compete in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 for the organization as well as other select NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
“We have been thrilled with the performance by Zane this season,” said Bob Jenkins, Owner, Front Row Motorsports. “We always felt that he was the next breakthrough star in the sport, and he has been proving that this season. We have a plan laid out for him and our next step will be to put Zane and that team in NASCAR Cup Series races where we know we can be successful. We also want to give Zane the opportunity to win more races and a championship with our truck series program, and we are excited to see what he will do next season.”
For his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Smith will pilot a third Front Row Motorsports entry. For the NASCAR Xfinity Series action, at this time, it appears that Front Row will find a partnership with another NASCAR Xfinity Series organization for Smith.
“Chris Lawson, his team, and Zane have really worked well together this season,” said Jerry Freeze, General Manager, Front Row Motorsports. “We do not want to change that chemistry, but also feel this team is up to the challenge with Zane to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series. We will be strategic as what races we select to enter. We want to allow Zane to highlight what many have seen him do this year at the elite level. We will announce those races later once the 2023 schedules are announced. Until that time, we are focused on winning the truck series championship.”
For Smith, he feels FRM is carrying a lot of momentum between his incredible NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign and the impressive performances from Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland on the NASCAR Cup Series side of things.
“Front Row Motorsports has a lot of great momentum now, not only with their Truck Series program, but also with their Cup Series program,” said Smith, a two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship runner-up. “While I’m 100 percent focused now on the Truck Series playoffs and racing to win a championship for our partners, I’m excited for what the future holds next season as I get the opportunity to also compete at the next level and continue to grow as a race car driver.”
With the future set, the 23-year old can focus on the task at hand; winning a championship.
Smith, who finished second in the NCWTS year-end championship standings in each of the last two years, driving for GMS Racing, sits second in the standings after 18 races this year.
In addition to his three wins, Smith has recorded 10 top-five finishes and 15 top-10s this season, and he has an average finish of 8.4 this year.
