Get ready for three straight days of Front Row Motorsports previews. As it happens, the Days to Daytona countdown has placed the three FRM teams one after the other. Kicking off this trio will be the newest official driver for the organization: Zane Smith. Returning from a one year stint with Spire Motorsports, Smith will look to keep the upward trajectory of the Front Row Motorsports #38 team. With 19 Days to Daytona left, what should fans expect from Zane Smith and the #38 team?
The #38 Team
Driver: Zane Smith
Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty
Sponsors: Speedy Cash, TitleMax, Benebone
2024 Statistics: 2 Top-5s, 4 Top-10s, 6 Laps Led, 23.2 Average Finish
2025 Season Preview
Returning to FRM/Ford
After being the odd-driver out of Front Row’s driver stack, Zane Smith seemed to have the perfect landing spot with Trackhouse Racing. Running a season on loan to Spire Motorsports should have been a transitional season before getting the expected third fulltime entry this season. Instead, Smith again became the odd-driver out and had to leave for pasture new. Well, sort of new. Smith returns to Front Row Motorsports, where he won a Craftsman Truck Series championship. After a disappointing rookie season, the hope is that Smith can regain traction with the team he is very familiar with.
Continue the Momentum From 2024
Despite the overall season being poor, Zane Smith did end last year on a strong note. After finishing second at Nashville, Smith rode that momentum to more consistent results through the end of the season. Before Nashville, the driver of the 71 only had 4 Top-20s in 18 starts. In the following 18, Smith raised that number to 10. Plus, all of his Top-5s and 10s came during this stretch. The NextGen car has presented as a car where rookies need to learn with more starts. If that is the case, perhaps Smith can hit the ground running with the 38 team.
Finally Replacing Todd
Heading into the 2023 season, it seemed certain that Zane Smith would end up booting Todd Gilliland from his 38 ride. Well, it took an additional season and a brief hiatus to a different organization, but now it has officially happened (somewhat). With Gilliland being promoted to FRM’s lead car, Smith will pilot the car many had him penciled in for the 2024 season. Unlike last year, Smith will have shoes to fill as the 38 team has been steadily improving each season with Gilliland. If the team starts to take steps backwards, then it will be difficult to not blame Smith.
Daytona 500 Outlook
Prior to Nashville, the Daytona 500 last year was one of the few bright spots in the first half for Zane Smith. Managing to avoid the chaos, Smith managed to finish the Great American Race in 13th. Bizarrely, Smith has only known a 13th place finish in each of his 3 Cup starts at Daytona. That includes his 500 debut with Front Row Motorsports in 2023.
Jumping from Spire to Front Row should be a boost for Zane Smith on the superspeedways. Although, his eerie series of 13th place finishes does not imply Smith needs much help. He has managed to avoid being collected into any major wrecks. However, he has yet to lead a lap at Daytona. Back under the Ford umbrella, Smith should benefit from that alliance along with working with Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson. For this year’s Daytona 500, what would be more impressive for Zane Smith: winning the race or finishing 13th again?
Days to Daytona Countdown
40 Days: Team Penske #22; 39 Days: Team Penske #12; 38 Days: Hendrick #24;
37 Days: 23XI Racing #45; 36 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #20;
35 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #5; 34 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #9
33 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #11, 32 Days: Henrick Motorsports #48;
31 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #19; 30 Days: Team Penske #2;
29 Days: Trackhouse Racing #99; 28 Days: RFK Racing #6;
27 Days: Trackhouse Racing #88; 26 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #54;
25 Days: Wood Brothers Racing #21; 24 Days: RFK Racing #17;
23 Days: 23XI Racing #23; 22 Days: Trackhouse Racing #1;
21 Days: Richard Childress Racing #8; 20 Days: Spire Motorsports #77
