Front Row Motorsports Extends Driver Past 2025 Season

What’s Happening?

Front Row Motorsports has made its first move of the 2026 NASCAR Silly Season, signing Zane Smith to a multi-year extension and confirming the return of its entire Cup lineup for the coming season.

• Alongside Smith, his Crew Chief, Ryan Bergenty, will return to his role for the 2026 season onward. Furthermore, in a subsequent post on X, FRM told one fan that all three of their drivers —Smith, Todd Gilliland, and Noah Gragson —are returning for the coming season, saying, “The Big 3 are here to stay.”
• Smith is in his first full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series with FRM and his second full-time season at the Cup level. This season, the 26-year-old has improved on both his top-tens and average finish from the 2024 season.
• The 2022 Craftsman Truck Series Champion found his way to FRM’s cup roster in a roundabout way. After racing full-time in the truck Series and part-time in the Cup Series with FRM in 2022 and 2023, Smith signed a developmental deal with Trackhouse Racing that would place him in Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 car in 2024.
• Despite rebounding from a miserable start last season, Trackhouse would part ways with Smith amid a clear picture of their future with drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch. This, combined with FRM veteran Michael McDowell signing on to drive the No. 71 for Spire, opened a door for Smith to race for the Ford team this season.
• While this is a long-term commitment to Smith, the future of FRM remains uncertain amid their ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR, which has resulted in the revocation of their three charters. For more information on this lawsuit, be sure to check out our in-depth timeline linked below.

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