'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The NASCAR silly season is in full swing with Cup drivers having announced their plans for 2025 in recent weeks. Zane Smith and Sam Mayer are now reported to be in contention for the third seat at Front Row Motorsports.
Bob Jenkins owned FRM acquired a charter from Stewart Haas Racing and recently announced Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson as two of the three drivers for 2025. Veteran driver Michael McDowell is parting with the team to join Spire Motorsports next season.
According to Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass, Spire driver Zane Smith and Xfinity driver Sam Mayer are in contention for the third seat at Front Row Motorsports. Pockrass suggested that Smith's reunion with the team seems more probable now, while Mayer is said to have the financial backing.
Trending
Smith was under contract with FRM previously, winning the 2022 Truck Series championship with the team and sharing the #38 Cup ride with Todd Gilliland. However, the team's decision to promote Gilliand to a full-time role left Smith to search for other opportunities.
Zane Smith landed a contract with Trackhouse Racing and was loaned to Spire for the ongoing season. Smith continues to remain under contract with Trackhouse next season, with the team likely to add a third charter. Smith and Shane van Gisbergen are reported to be in contention for the seat.
Sam Mayer is in his third Xfinity season with JR Motorsports, with six victories under his belt. He finished seventh in the standings in his rookie campaign and third in his sophomore year. Mayer has explicitly expressed his interest in a Cup ride, also expressing his gripe for not being considered a future Cup Series prospect.
Front Row Motorsports GM comments on Zane Smith's availability for 2025
Zane Smith was with Front Row Motorsports until last season but the team had to let him go, having only two charters with three drivers under contract. The team decided to promote Todd Gilliland as the full-time driver.
The organization's General Manager, Jerry Freeze, praised Smith's contributions during his tenure with Front Row Motorsports. Freeze expressed the team's interest in a potential reunion with the 25-year-old, depending on his free agency status. Speaking to Bob Pockrass, he said:
"If Zane were to be a free agent for next year, I think that's something that we'll certainly be interested in for sure, I don't know if he is. We really believe in Zane's talent and I think he's gonna be a star you know."
Jerry Freeze stated that retaining Smith would have been a no-brainer if they had three charters for the current season. He described Smith as a "star in the making" and noted that team owner Bob Jenkins is interested in bringing him back into their fold.
