Zane Smith is again at Entrance Row Motorsports.
The staff made its long-awaited announcement that Smith could be in a 3rd NASCAR Cup Collection automotive in 2025 on Thursday. The formality got here after the staff mentioned that its buy of a constitution from Stewart-Haas Racing had been finalized amidst its authorized wrangling with NASCAR over the brand new constitution settlement.
Smith, 25, gained the 2022 Truck Collection title for Entrance Row Motorsports. He gained 4 races that season and had 19 top-10 finishes over 23 races. His fourth win of the season got here within the winner-take-all championship race.
After one other season within the Truck Collection in 2023, Smith moved to the Cup Collection in 2024 with Spire Motorsports. Smith had signed a cope with Trackhouse Racing, however the staff loaned him out to a 3rd Spire automotive. With Trackhouse increasing to 3 vehicles in 2025 and including Shane van Gisbergen to its Cup Collection staff, Smith discovered himself a free agent on the finish of the season.
Smith ended up thirtieth within the standings with two high fives and 5 top-10 finishes. He had only one top-10 end earlier than discovering out he was set to be a free agent on the finish of the season.
Entrance Row is increasing again to 3 vehicles after fielding two vehicles in current seasons. Smith joins Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson as Michael McDowell strikes to Spire for 2025. Gragson joins the staff after SHR closed down on the finish of the 2024 season.
Each FRM and 23XI Racing moved to buy charters from SHR however the way forward for these gross sales had been in limbo after the 2 groups filed an antitrust lawsuit towards NASCAR over its franchising settlement with the groups. The 2 groups had been the one ones who didn’t signal the constitution settlement earlier than the earlier one expired on the finish of the 2024 season.
By not signing the settlement, the groups weren’t in a position to shut their constitution purchases. Nevertheless, they from a federal decide that enables them to briefly compete as chartered groups — and buy the charters from SHR — in 2025 as their lawsuit towards NASCAR progresses.
