LEBANON, Tenn: Zane Smith’s rookie NASCAR Cup Series season has been a rollercoaster, with very few moments of excitement. However, as the Ally 400 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway entered its fifth attempt at an overtime finish, Smith found himself in a promising position.
In fact, throughout a chaotic finish that saw the trip to the “Music City” be extended by 31 laps, a rare occurrence in NASCAR, Smith had his No. 71 Jockey Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports in a position to execute and take advantage of the lead cars who were barely hovering about their fuel tank above “E.”
Smith was steady earlier in the race, and while he did not have winner’s pace by any means, the Trackhouse Racing development driver stayed out of trouble with his No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.
At the end of Stage 2, Smith had managed just the 33rd fastest position but kept himself on the lead lap, which ultimately contributed to his career-best NASCAR Cup Series finish.
Throughout Stage 3, Smith held his own, but it was a pit stop midway through the race’s final stage that put Smith in a position to pull off an upset victory.
While Denny Hamlin appeared set to cruise to his fourth Cup Series win of the season, the caution flag waved with less than two laps to go with Smith in 23rd.
In four NASCAR overtime restarts, Smith was able to steadily avoid the late-race carnage, while keeping enough fuel in his tank to move up the leaderboard and find himself restarting in a NASCAR Cup Series record five NASCAR overtime restarts in third place on the bottom lane.
When the green flag waved, Smith gave himself room in case the two front-row Ford Mustangs of leader Joey Logano and Chase Briscoe stumbled, but as the cars screamed out of Turns 1 and 2, Smith held his own on the lower lane, while Briscoe ran the middle and a hard-charging Tyler Reddick came soaring on the top lane.
Smith took the white flag in fourth, but as the field entered Turn 1 for the final time, Briscoe’s car ran out of gas, breaking up the top half of the field and leaving Smith to battle Reddick and Logano for the victory.
With Logano switching to defense mode to stop the hard-pressing Reddick, Smith used the momentum off Turn 4 to accelerate past Reddick and take the checkered flag in second with Logano stumbling for fuel at the checkered flag.
Entering Sunday’s race at Nashville Superspeedway, Smith’s best finish this season occurred in the season-opening Daytona 500 when he finished 13th.
The team’s strategy not only propelled the 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion to his first career top-five but also the team’s top-10 finish of the season.
More importantly for the Huntington Beach, Calif. native, his second career top-10 occurs more than a year after earning his first career top-10 finish at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway driving a third entry for Front Row Motorsports.
“My winning side of me is pissed with the second place, especially after hearing the No. 22 was going to run out for the past 10 laps, I don’t know how many restarts,” Smith said after the race.
“No, I wouldn’t have done anything different. I felt like I chose the right lane, and it’s crazy how much different these cars drive with cleaner air. Obviously so happy with our result. Just proud of our strategy there.”
Entering Nashville, Smith had an average finish of 28.1. He said the finish wasn’t just about him; it was about the people who continued to support him through what has been assessed as a miserable season so far.
“Appreciate everyone on board throughout this year, sticking with us,” added Zane. “It’s been rough, no doubt, so just appreciate everyone at Spire Motorsports, of course Jockey Outdoors. Having Luke Bryan on the hood this weekend is awesome.
“But of course our other partners, Focused Health riding with us every single weekend and sticking through it. Hopefully get them some good finishes, as well. Obviously Wellcare. So many partners I need to thank.”
With Silly Season in full swing, Smith’s name has been a hot topic after less-than-expected results.
With the nine-time Truck Series likely fighting to keep his Cup job ahead of the 2025 season, Smith was going to relish the moment – even if it wasn’t an upset victory.
“You’d never know how many more opportunities you’re going to have at a Cup win, so we’ll be thinking about that one, and of course it stings when you see them shaking it, thinking he’s going to run out right at the line, but just short,” Smith sounded.
“But obviously proud of a second place. It’s been a rough, rough year. This is a great momentum booster, confidence booster, all of the above. Hopefully, we can carry this on, but it was awesome to kinda sniff your first Cup win. Top-three in the Cup Series is awesome, so just proud of our day.”
Follow Chris Knight on X (Twitter) @Knighter01 or email at [email protected].[table=4161]
