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Zane Smith Returning to FRM for 2023

Zane Smith will be back in the No. 38 for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2023, FRM announced Aug. 25.

Smith will also compete for the team in select NASCAR Cup Series events, including the season-opening Daytona 500.

Appearances in the NASCAR Xfinity Series are also possible for Smith, though the team said it does not currently plan to field its own entry in the series.

In 2022, his first season with FRM, Smith has three wins, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s.

He also made his Cup debut this season filling in for Chris Buescher during a COVID-related absence, finishing 17th at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

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“We have been thrilled with the performance by Zane this season,” FRM owner Bob Jenkins said in a team release. “We always felt that he was the next breakthrough star in the sport, and he has been proving that this season. We have a plan laid out for him and our next step will be to put Zane and that team in NASCAR Cup Series races where we know we can be successful. We also want to give Zane the opportunity to win more races and a championship with our Truck Series program, and we are excited to see what he will do next season.”

Smith’s return to FRM marks the team’s first announcement for the 2023 season. The organization also currently fields the Nos. 34 and 38 in the Cup Series for Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland, respectively.

“Front Row Motorsports has a lot of great momentum now, not only with their Truck Series program, but also with their Cup Series program,” Smith said. “While I’m 100% focused now on the Truck Series playoffs and racing to win a championship for our partners, I’m excited for what the future holds next season as I get the opportunity to also compete at the next level and continue to grow as a racecar driver.”

Smith’s Cup starts will come in a third open car, according to the release.

About the author

Frontstretch.com

Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.

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Dale EarnHog

Good for him, though I wish he could run Xfinity full time. When McDowell retires or Gilliland gets the boot Zane will be there waiting in the wings.