“His name was at the top of their list”: NASCAR insider hints at Zane Smith’s FRM return amid Trackhouse disappointment ft. Shane van Gisbergen 

NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi has indicated that Zane Smith might rekindle his association with Front Row Motorsports. Smith drives for Spire Motorsports in alliance with Trackhouse Racing but his contract with the team won't further into 2025.

Smith began part-time Cup Series racing in 2022 and debuted in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway Motorsports Park. However, he ran a single race in his first Cup season for RFK Racing. The same year, he bagged the Truck Series title.

In 2023, the Californian joined Front Row Motorsports and fielded multiple entries for the #36 and #38 Ford Mustang. Smith also competed at the Martinsville Speedway for Rick Ware Racing. The 25-year-old switched to Trackhouse Racing in 2024 because Todd Gilliland and Michael McDowell's seats left no room for him in FRM.

With Trackhouse Racing set to expand to a three-car Cup team next year, they had two candidates for the #88 Chevy- Zane Smith and Shane van Gisbergen. The team opted for the latter, leaving Smith's Cup Series future hanging by a thread.

However, according to Jordan Bianchi, the Spire Motorsports driver might rejoin FRM as he was the top choice when the Bob Jenkins-owned team started scouting a third driver.

"Even when Smith left, he remained in high regard by FRM team personnel, and his name was at the top of their list when the search began for a third driver. Nothing is set in stone, but should the appropriate sponsorship come together, Smith would likely return to FRM, according to sources briefed on the matter," Bianchi's report read via The Athletic.

Front Row Motorsports will field Noah Gragson and Todd Gilliland next year, while Smith's prospect is yet to materialize.

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Trackhouse Racing owner details why he chose Shane van Gisbergen over Zane Smith

Even though Zane Smith inked a multiyear contract with Trackhouse Racing in 2023 for 2024 and beyond, and was expected to field a Cup car for Justin Marks. When they expanded to a third car, however, Shane van Gisbergen emerged as the better option.

Smith is running his rookie Cup Series season and has collected a solitary top-5 and two top-10s. On the contrary, SVG boasts superior statistics. The New Zealander won his debut Cup Series race in 2023 and posted a tenth-place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year, he's running a full-time Xfinity schedule and has amassed three wins, five top-5s, and seven top-10s.

Moreover, with no wins to his name and a lackluster performance in the regular season, Zane Smith is out of the playoffs, while Shane van Gibsergen's dominant road course runs in the NXS have secured his playoff berth.

Bob Pockrass' questioned Justin Marks about the reason for opting for SVG instead of Smith. The Trackhouse Racing's co-owner replied and said.

"It's a commercial sport, it's fitting the company, it's personality, all that. We don't have four cars, we have three. We're excited about the decision we made with SVG," Marks said via Jeff Gluck on X.

Shane van Gisbergen will be partnering up with Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez in the 2025 Cup Series season.