Zane Smith to Run Seven Cup Races with FRM

Featuring Ambetter Health and Wellcare as his primary partners, this deal will begin at Daytona International Speedway when Smith attempts to qualify for his second career Cup start and first Daytona 500 in the No. 36 Wellcare Ford Mustang. Boot Barn will also be on board the No. 38 for Smith in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.

Smith will try and make his maiden Daytona 500 appearance as an open car. At this time, there are six confirmed open entries for four spots in The Great American Race. Smith will have to either set a top-two open qualifying time or race his way in through the Duels.

His other races in the No. 38 include Phoenix (3/12), Talladega (4/23), Charlotte (5/28), Sonoma (6/11), Texas (9/24) and the Charlotte Roval (10/8). The No. 38’s current driver Todd Gilliland, is likewise displaced for these races. Gilliland was a 2022 Rookie of the Year contender, earning two top-10s and finishing 28th in points.

While substituting for the COVID-sidelined Chris Buescher last season at Gateway, Smith finished 17th in his Cup Series debut.

“First off, I just want to say thank you to Front Row Motorsports and everyone involved that made this possible,” Smith said. “Wellcare and Ambetter being welcomed on. Obviously, Boot Barn being on for the Coke 600 and obviously all of the other partners through Front Row Motorsports. Without them, none of this would be possible. It’s exciting stuff. I expressed at the beginning of the year that I just wanted to race more and a few things were up in the air, but I knew that I wanted to go truck racing again next year and defend our title and, like I said, race as much as possible no matter what it’s in. These six, hopefully seven Cup races will do so. I’m excited for them.”

“There’s only so much simulation you can really do for Daytona. I plan on going actually this week, not so much for the track but to practice my launch for qualifying since that will be my first laps. Looking back, that Cup race I ran for RFK last year at Gateway – that 300 and something mile race – I feel like went so far for me, just comparing to other people’s situation that are going to be making their debut and their first lap will be qualifying. So, I at least have some laps and some experience. I don’t remember a ton of it, but I’ve at least driven a Cup car. That went a long way, but relying on teammates, obviously, Michael does a really good job, especially on the superspeedway racing. As we get closer to the 500, I’ll lean on him some on whatever there is to learn and you’ll just kind of learn things. My second lap will be in the Duels, so you’ll learn pretty quick there. Then my races are kind of scattered, Phoenix being soon after Daytona. It’ll be cool to kind of get that one going just because I enjoy Phoenix a lot and I feel that the group on this 38 Cup car is a good group and I plan on running some simulation stuff through everyone at Ford Performance and whatever time I get there is valuable, and so I’m ready for all of them.”