NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Zane Smith in 2023
By Randy Smith
Possible Zane Smith landing spots: No. 2 – Front Row Motorsports (Cup Series)
If Front Row Motorsports want to reward Zane Smith for his success in his first season with their Truck Series team, they may want to look into moving him to their Cup Series program.
Taking one of their Truck Series drivers straight to the Cup Series wouldn’t be unheard of for the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team, as they did exactly that with Todd Gilliland last year.
With Gilliland just getting his feet wet in the #38 Ford, replacing him with Smith after only one year would be an unlikely move, but the #34 Ford could be an option.
Michael McDowell’s contract status is unknown past this season, and while the 2021 Daytona 500 winner has set a single-season best in top 10 finishes this year with six, the younger option could be the more tempting choice.
McDowell’s Daytona 500 win last year is his only Cup Series win in his 15-year career, and Front Row Motorsports could decide it’s time to move on from the 37-year-old.
If Love’s Travel Stops remains as the primary sponsor for the #34 Ford, the best move for the team would be giving the young gun a chance at a full-time Cup Series ride.
When given the chance to race against McDowell at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Smith finished one spot in front of the veteran. It was a promising debut for a Truck Series regular, one which could raise questions at Front Row Motorsports.
Smith was expected to drive the #1 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing before the team was acquired by Trackhouse Racing Team, so Cup Series teams have already shown interest in him. Front Row Motorsports might have to move on from a solid veteran to keep a hot young prospect in-house.