NASCAR Cup Series driver Zane Smith will remain in the mix in 2026.
Front Row Motorsports announced Thursday that Smith, who won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship with the organization in 2022, will return for a second season with the company’s Cup Series program.
In fact, if all goes according to plan, Smith will be with Front Row even beyond next season. His new contract extension with the Bob Jenkins-owned outfit is a multi-year deal.
It’s been great to be back. Excited for the future with this 38 group! https://t.co/vpFhReRWt0
— Zane Smith (@ZaneSmith) October 23, 2025
How Did Zane Smith Manage To Land A New Contract With Front Row Motorsports?
Despite competing for an organization in Front Row Motorsports that lacks the resources to regularly challenge NASCAR’s elites, Zane Smith has arguably made the most of his opportunity.
In his first Cup Series campaign with FRM, Smith has recorded five top-10s. From Year One in Cup — which he spent at another organization, Spire Motorsports, to Year Two — he’s also improved in just about every statistical category. Areas where he’s already eclipsed his results from his rookie season include top-10s, poles, laps led, points position, average starting position and average finishing position.
The Huntington Beach, California native posted his best finish of the year in the August night race at Bristol Motor Speedway. In that event, Smith took the checkered flag running third. The highlight of his year, though, arguably came in the spring when he captured the pole at Talladega Superspeedway.
Any way you cut it, little by little, Smith continues to chip away. Even though he’s at a competitive disadvantage relative to many with whom he shares a racetrack.
But thanks in large part to the steady improvements of his team and its race cars, Smith is optimistic about his future outlook with Front Row Motorsports.
“We’ve had an up-and-down year,” he said in a team news release. “But heading into the offseason, I feel like we’ve put our program in a great position to hit the ground running in 2026.”
Zane Smith Will Have Extra-Familiar Surroundings Next Season
Along with staying put at Front Row Motorsports, where he competed as a Craftsman Truck Series driver in 2022 and 2023, Zane Smith will have other familiar scenery in 2026.
This includes staying in the No. 38 Ford, which he took over this season. Smith will also be with the same crew chief next year.
That crew chief, Ryan Bergenty, is a garage area veteran. He’ll be returning for a fourth season to lead the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports team.
With the same crew chief and the same team, Smith could be poised to build on his successes from 2025.
“Front Row has always felt like home,” Smith said. “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.”
Front Row Motorsports says it will announce Smith’s sponsor lineup for next season at a later date.
