Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and Zane Smith have agreed to a multi-year contract extension, which will see Smith return to the driver’s seat of the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Smith, a native of Huntington Beach, California, is currently finishing up his second full-time campaign at NASCAR’s top-level (and his first with Front Row Motorsports).
“We’ve had an up-and-down year, but heading into the offseason, I feel like we’ve put our program in a great position to hit the ground running in 2026,” said Smith. “Front Row has always felt like home — the people, both on the road and at the shop, truly make this a special place and I’m excited for what next season holds.”
This season, while driving the No. 38 Ford Mustang, Smith has recorded a single top-five result (a third-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in September) and a career-high five top-10 results, which leaves him 27th in NASCAR Cup Series point standings.
Smith first joined the Front Row Motorsports family in 2022, beginning a two-year stint as the team’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pilot, a journey that netted him six victories, 24 top-five finishes, and a series championship.
Ryan Bergenty will continue to serve as the shot-caller for Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in 2026. Bergenty has been with Front Row Motorsports as a crew chief since 2023, and has worked with both Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith.
Under the direction of Bergenty, Front Row Motorsports has managed to collect a single top-five, 13 top-10s, and a pole position (Talladega) with its No. 38 entry since 2023.
The team, along with official confirmation that Smith will retain his seat in the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for next season, added on social media that both Noah Gragson and Todd Gilliland will return to their respective seats for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
Additional sponsorship announcements for Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang will be made in the months leading up to the start of the 2026 campaign at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1.
