Jump to content

User:MysticCipher87(alt-account)/sandbox

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zane Smith
Smith at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024
BornZane Michael Smith
(1999-06-09) June 9, 1999 (age 25)
Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Achievements2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion
2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Regular Season Champion
2015 World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model Champion
Awards2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Most Popular Driver
2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Rookie of the Year
2018 ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year
2015 CARS Super Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
33 races run over 3 years
Car no., teamNo. 38 (Front Row Motorsports)
2024 position30th
Best finish30th (2024)
First race2022 Enjoy Illinois 300 (Gateway)
Last race2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 5 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
12 races run over 3 years
2023 position84th
Best finish25th (2019)
First race2019 Boyd Gaming 300 (Las Vegas)
Last race2023 Tennessee Lottery 250 (Nashville)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 8 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
97 races run over 6 years
Truck no., teamNo. 91 (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing)
2023 position7th
Best finish1st (2022)
First race2018 Eaton 200 (Gateway)
Last race2024 Weather Guard Truck Race (Bristol)
First win2020 Henry Ford Health System 200 (Michigan)
Last win2024 CRC Brakleen 175 (Pocono)
Wins Top tens Poles
9 61 3
ARCA Menards Series career
38 races run over 5 years
Best finish2nd (2018)
First race2016 Eddie Gilstrap Motors Fall Classic (Salem)
Last race2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
First win2018 Music City 200 (Fairgrounds)
Last win2018 ModSpace 150 (Pocono)
Wins Top tens Poles
4 26 3
ARCA Menards Series East career
2 races run over 1 year
Best finish25th (2017)
First race2017 Jet Tools 150 (New Smyrna)
Last race2017 Zombie Auto 125 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 2 0
ARCA Menards Series West career
5 races run over 4 years
Best finish34th (2020)
First race2017 NAPA Auto Parts Tucson 150 (Tucson)
Last race2021 General Tire 200 (Sonoma)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
Statistics current as of October 8, 2024.

Zane Michael Smith (born June 9, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He most recently competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports. Smith also competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. He is the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, a title he earned while driving for Front Row Motorsports.

Smith previously competed full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series for GMS Racing, finishing as the championship runner-up in both 2020 and 2021. Earlier in his career, he also finished second in the 2018 ARCA Racing Series standings while driving for MDM Motorsports. Additionally, he has made part-time appearances in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports and in Stadium Super Trucks.

Racing career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Starting with BMX racing, Smith transitioned to go-karting in 2004, where he dominated by winning championships for five consecutive years. He then advanced to legends car racing before moving up to super late models in 2015.[1] That year, he achieved victories in the World Series of Asphalt, the Pro All Stars Series, and the CARS Tour, in addition to securing a runner-up finish in the prestigious Snowball Derby.[2]

2016

[edit]

Building on his success in late model racing, Smith tested an ARCA Menards Series car with Mason Mitchell Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway in January 2016.[3] However, a Wakeskating injury sidelined him early that year. He eventually returned to compete in two ARCA races with Venturini Motorsports.[1] By late summer 2016, Smith parted ways with his SLM team, aiming to gain more ARCA experience in 2017.[4]

2017

[edit]

In late 2016, Smith signed with Venturini Motorsports to drive all but two races of the 2017 ARCA Racing Series schedule in the No. 55 entry. Noah Gragson filled the other two races, as Smith was ineligible to compete due to age restrictions.[5] Competing for Rookie of the Year honors, Smith joined the same crew that had guided Dalton Sargeant to the award the previous year.[6] Smith also competed in a partial K&N Pro Series East schedule, debuting with Calabrese Motorsports early in 2017.[7] Additionally, he stepped in for Ryan Partridge at the K&N Pro Series West season opener after Partridge was unable to obtain a license in time.[8] In April 2017, Smith was named to the NASCAR Next class, a program highlighting up-and-coming talent.[9] In August, Smith and Venturini parted ways after a strong run that included eight top-10 finishes in 11 races.[10] Later in the season, Smith joined MDM Motorsports for three races, achieving two poles and two runner-up finishes.[11][12]

2018

[edit]
Smith's 2018 ARCA car

On November 6, 2017, Smith re-signed with MDM Motorsports for the 2018 season to compete full-time in their No. 41 Toyota.[12] He claimed his first victory in the second race of the season, outlasting teammate Sheldon Creed and overcoming three previous runner-up finishes.[13] Two races later, Smith secured a historic win at Talladega Superspeedway in ARCA’s closest-ever finish. The margin of victory was so tight—recorded as 0.00 seconds—that officials relied on photo evidence to determine the winner.[14] In the next event, Smith made a bold three-wide pass involving Chandler Smith (no relation) and lapped car Mike Basham to take the lead.[15] He later overtook teammate Chase Purdy with fewer than ten laps remaining to secure another victory,[16] with assistance from 2017 ARCA champion Austin Theriault, who served as his spotter at Toledo Speedway.[17] In May 2018, Smith was also named to the NASCAR Next program for the second consecutive year.[18] Later in the season at Salem Speedway, Smith clashed repeatedly with Michael Self, causing his radiator to fail mid-race. After returning to the track, Smith deliberately slowed to wait for Self, then rammed him into the outside wall. In a subsequent MAVTV interview, Smith openly bragged about the incident.[19] As a result, ARCA fined him US$5,000 and docked 100 points, though many within the industry criticized the penalty as too lenient. NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Scott Heckert expressed concerns about the safety implications of intentional wrecks.[20] Despite the penalty, Smith finished second in the season standings. Reflecting on the season, he revealed that his full-time campaign was not initially planned but became possible as his performance helped secure sponsorships for the remainder of the schedule.[21]

In June 2018, Smith made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut with DGR-Crosley, driving the No. 54 truck at Gateway Motorsports Park. The deal came together just days before the race, requiring Smith to quickly secure his licenses.[22] Despite the last-minute preparations, he qualified 10th and finished an impressive 5th.

2019

[edit]
Smith's 2019 Xfinity car

On December 18, 2018, JR Motorsports announced that Smith would drive the No. 9 entry in the Xfinity Series for eight races during the 2019 season, primarily at short tracks.[23] This opportunity arose after a full-time Truck Series deal with GMS Racing fell through.[21] However, on January 25, 2019, it was confirmed that Smith would instead switch to the No. 8 car, as Noah Gragson took over the No. 9 entry.[24]

2020

[edit]

Smith joined GMS Racing for the full 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season.[25] On August 7, he earned his first career Truck Series victory at the Henry Ford Health System 200, overtaking Christian Eckes on the final lap in overtime.[26] Two weeks later, he secured his second win at the KDI Office Technology 200, holding off Matt Crafton and Brett Moffitt on the final restart.[27] Smith advanced to the championship round as the only non-playoff race winner among the final four drivers. He finished runner-up to GMS teammate Sheldon Creed in both the season finale at the Lucas Oil 150 and the overall standings.[28] In recognition of his impressive season, Smith received NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors and was voted the Truck Series' Most Popular Driver.[29]

2021

[edit]
Zane Smith's 2021 truck

Smith returned to GMS Racing for the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. On October 30, he secured his third career Truck Series victory at the United Rentals 200 after Stewart Friesen spun Todd Gilliland in front of the field. The win clinched Smith's spot in the Championship 4 race at Phoenix. In the season finale, the Lucas Oil 150, Smith was passed with eight laps remaining and finished fifth in the race, ultimately placing second in the championship standings behind Ben Rhodes.  

In May 2021, Smith made a one-off return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series as a substitute driver for Justin Haley, who was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols. Smith drove the No. 11 car for Kaulig Racing at the Drydene 200.

2022

[edit]
Smith's No. 38 truck at Sonoma Raceway in 2022

On November 30, 2021, Smith was announced as the driver of the Front Row Motorsports No. 38 truck in 2022.[30] In the 2022 season, Smith scored his fourth career Truck Series win in the season opener at Daytona after holding off Ben Rhodes in overtime after nearly winning in regulation.[31] Smith finished in second place at Las Vegas, but was disqualified after a post-race inspection found a lug nut violation.[32] Smith finished fifth the next race at Atlanta. Zane got his second win of the season at Circuit of the Americas after Alex Bowman collided with front runners Stewart Friesen and Kyle Busch, Smith also won both stages. Following the 2022 CRC Brakleen 150 at Pocono Raceway, Smith clinched the regular season championship.[33] On November 4, Smith claimed his first Truck Series championship after winning at Phoenix. It was also Front Row Motorsports' first NASCAR championship.[34]

On June 2, 2022, RFK Racing driver Chris Buescher tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the Cup Series race at Gateway. Smith was announced as the driver to replace Buescher. It was his first race in the Cup Series.[35] He finished on the lead lap in 17th after starting 32nd.

2023

[edit]
Smith, no. 28 car, among the cars that finished the race.

Smith began the 2023 season by winning at Daytona for the second year in a row.[36] He also won at the Circuit of the Americas and scored eight top-five finishes during the regular season. During the playoffs, Smith made it to the Round of 8. He finished second at Homestead, but was disqualified and eliminated after post-race inspection discovered unapproved windshield supports.[37]

In June 2023, Smith raced in the Xfinity Series again, this time at Nashville. He drove the No. 28 for RSS Racing, replacing Kyle Sieg, who raced the No. 29. Smith finished 7th at Nashville.

Smith drove the Front Row Motorsports No. 36 to a 13th place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500. He drove the Rick Ware Racing No. 51 at Martinsville.[38]

2024

[edit]
Smith's No. 71 car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024

On September 16, 2023, Smith signed a multi-year deal with Trackhouse Racing. As part of a partnership deal, Smith will drive Spire Motorsports' third team in 2024, and was expected to join Trackhouse full-time in a third team in 2025.[39] Smith opened up the season with 18 straight finishes outside the top ten with an average finish of 28.1, with a 13th place finish at the 2024 Daytona 500 being his highest finish. At Nashville, Smith was in position to win at the closing laps of the race but ultimately came just short of picking up his first career win and finished 2nd to Joey Logano, his best finish of his Cup Series career and his first career top 5 finish in the Cup Series. However, despite this, on August 23, Smith announced he would be parting ways with Trackhouse and Spire, seemingly due to his lack of performance and the more desirable move to bring Australian racer Shane van Gisbergen up to the cup series, as the following day, he was announced to be in a Trackhouse cup car for 2025.[40] Smith finished the season with two top-fives and four top-tens.

2025

[edit]

On January 2, 2025, Front Row Motorsports announced Smith will return to the team, driving the No. 38 Ford Dark Horse Mustang.

Other racing

[edit]

On August 8, 2020, Smith made his Stadium Super Trucks debut at Road America, a day after he won the NASCAR Truck Series race at Michigan; Creed, a two-time SST champion, also competed.[41][42] Smith finished fifth and sixth in the day's two races.[43]

Smith and his teammate Harrison Burton won the 2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge event at Daytona International Speedway on January 27, 2023.

Personal life

[edit]

Smith was born in Huntington Beach, California.[44] He is the son of Mike Smith, who runs the professional off-road racing team, Herbst-Smith Fabrication. Trucks built by Hersbt-Smith have won the Baja 1000 over 10 times.[45] Smith is married to McCall Gaulding, the younger sister of fellow race car driver Gray Gaulding.

Refrences

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Newcomer Zane Smith Signs with Venturini Motorsports for ARCA Debut at Kentucky Speedway". Catchfence. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  2. ^ "Venturini Motorsports signs Zane Smith for 2017 season". ARCA Racing. Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  3. ^ "Boyd, Gragson, and Smith to participate in ARCA Daytona test". www.racingamerica.com. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  4. ^ "Super-split: Zane Smith, Crooks Racing Part Ways". www.racingamerica.com. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  5. ^ admin (2016-11-18). "Zane Smith Joins Venturini Motorsports for 2017 Season". ARCA Racing Press Releases. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  6. ^ Tribune, Motorsports (2016-11-18). "Zane Smith Takes Next Step in Career, Will Drive for Venturini in 2017". Motorsports Tribune. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  7. ^ "VMS Driver Zane Smith Set for NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Debut at New Smyrna Speedway". venturinimotorsports.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  8. ^ Lair, Keith (March 21, 2017). "Ryan Partridge loses NASCAR West ride due to paperwork". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  9. ^ "NASCAR Unveils 2017-2018 NASCAR Next Class". www.racingamerica.com. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  10. ^ "Zane Smith, Venturini Motorsports part ways". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  11. ^ "Zane Smith joins MDM Motorsports for three ARCA races". ARCAracing.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Zane Smith returns to MDM Motorsports for 2018 ARCA Racing Series season". Catchfence. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Organ, Mike. "Zane Smith wins Music City 200 ARCA Race at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  14. ^ "In closest ARCA finish in history, Zane Smith takes Talladega". ARCA Racing. Archived from the original on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  15. ^ Beaver, Dan (May 20, 2018). "NASCAR Next Driver Zane Smith Wins Menards 200 at Toledo Speedway". NASCAR Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "NASCAR Next driver Zane Smith passes fellow Next driver Chase Purdy for ARCA win in Toledo". Autoweek. May 20, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  17. ^ Rowland, Kyle. "With help from 2017 series champion, Zane Smith wins third ARCA race since April". Toledo Blade. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  18. ^ "Nine drivers named to NASCAR Next Class of 2018". www.racingamerica.com. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  19. ^ Soquet, William. "OPINION: ARCA needs to suspend Zane Smith for the season". LASTCAR.info. Blogger. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  20. ^ "#PETM163 – Talkin' Vegas with @MattWeaverAW! – The Official PETM Racing Podcast". www.petmpodcast.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  21. ^ a b Albino, Dustin (October 3, 2019). "Eyes On Xfinity: Zane Smith 'Thought I Was Going To Be Done'". Frontstretch. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  22. ^ "Smith Joins DGR-CROSLEY for Truck Series Debut". Motorsports Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  23. ^ Report, Staff (2018-12-18). "Zane Smith joins JR Motorsports for eight races in 2019". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  24. ^ Motorsports, JR. "JR Motorsports Reshuffles Team Car Numbers Entering 2019". Archived from the original on 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  25. ^ Report, Staff (2019-11-19). "GMS Racing adds Zane Smith to Gander Trucks roster for 2020". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  26. ^ Press, Associated. "Zane Smith scores first NASCAR Truck Series win in overtime at Michigan International Speedway". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  27. ^ "Smith takes Dover for 2nd Truck win in 3 races". ESPN.com. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  28. ^ Press, The Associated (2020-11-07). "Sheldon Creed holds off Huntington Beach's Zane Smith for Truck Series title". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  29. ^ Report, Staff (2020-11-19). "Zane Smith wins Most Popular Driver in Gander Trucks". Official Site Of NASCAR. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  30. ^ "Front Row Motorsports Sets 2022 Lineup; Todd Gilliland Moves to Cup Series". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  31. ^ "Zane Smith wins wild Camping World Truck Series season-opener at Daytona". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 18, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  32. ^ "Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Las Vegas Motor Speedway Disqualification Upheld". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  33. ^ "Zane Smith Clinches Regular Season Truck Series Championship for Ford". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  34. ^ "Zane Smith proves third time is charm by winning Truck Series title". NASCAR. November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  35. ^ "Chris Buescher Tests Positive for COVID-19; Zane Smith Driving No. 17 at Gateway". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  36. ^ Spencer, Reid (February 17, 2023). "Zane Smith wins rain-shortened Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona". NASCAR. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  37. ^ Cain, Holly (October 21, 2023). "Carson Hocevar converts Homestead win, joins Rhodes, Heim, Enfinger in Championship 4 field". NASCAR. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  38. ^ "Zane Smith to drive Rick Ware Racing's No. 51 Ford at Martinsville Speedway". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  39. ^ "Trackhouse Racing announces multiyear driving agreement with Zane Smith". NASCAR. September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  40. ^ "Zane Smith, Trackhouse to part ways at season's end". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  41. ^ Nguyen, Justin (August 8, 2020). "Max Gordon leads SST Road America Friday practice, Matt Brabham fastest in qualifying". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  42. ^ Kallmann, Dave (August 10, 2020). "Robby Gordon's high-flying trucks are heading to Wisconsin's off-road mecca". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  43. ^ "2020 Road America Race Results". Stadium Super Trucks. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  44. ^ "Profile". Zane Smith. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  45. ^ "Herbst Smith Fabrication". About Us. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-03-14. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:MysticCipher87(alt-account)/sandbox&oldid=1266955988"