What’s Happening?

Over the past few years, we have seen a few Cup Series drivers jump straight from Trucks to Cup with little to no experience in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. How have the moves worked out to this point? Today, we analyze the three current drivers that made the extreme jump.

• In theory, the NASCR development pipeline is very linear. The drivers prove themselves at local short tracks and in the Regional Touring Series before moving to the Craftsman Truck Series. From there, they move up to Xfinity before jumping to the Cup Series.
• However, Todd Gilliland, Carson Hocevar, and Zane Smith skipped the Xfinity Series. This article will discuss these three drivers.
• All of these drivers are still fairly early in their careers. As a result, it’s too soon to make too many definitive judgments, but there is enough sample size to analyze what they’ve done so far.

Todd Gilliland

Todd Gilliland was the first full-time Truck Series driver for Front Row Motorsports, and they rewarded him with a Cup Series opportunity in 2022. While many spent 2023 wondering if FRM would choose to invest in Gilliland or Zane Smith for the future, FRM chose Gilliland, and the decision has paid off.

Gilliland is having his best season since joining FRM with a sub-20.0 average finish and four top-10s, which already ties a career-high. As a result, he has been awarded a multi-year contract extension with the team and looks to be a fixture for years to come.

Overall, this move worked out well for FRM in the long term. As the team continues to improve with better equipment, it will be interesting to see how good Gilliland can be.

Carson Hocevar

Carson Hocevar was a pretty nondescript Cup Series prospect before 2023. He had made the Truck Series Playoffs twice but failed to win a race. He broke out in 2023 with four Truck Series wins, a Championship 4 appearance and five top-20 finishes in nine Cup Series starts.

Now, he’s on a multi-year contract at Spire Motorsports, and he is the team’s driver of the future. He’s consistently outrun teammate Corey LaJoie, which probably played a role in Spire dumping the Cup Series veteran. However, Hocevar has shown an impulsive side at times, which manifested itself at Nashville as he intentionally spun Harrison Burton under caution.

Overall, this move has worked out well for Spire, and Hocevar definitely has a lot of raw ability. The issue with him is refining that ability and ensuring he keeps his emotions in check. Should he do that, he could absolutely be a star.

Zane Smith

Zane Smith seemed like the “Hair apparent” at Front Row Motorsports in 2022 and 2023. However, FRM chose Gilliland, and Smith moved to Trackhouse on a development contract. That Trackhouse contract meant one year at Spire Motorsports in the No. 71 car.

That year has not gone as planned. However, he has shown some flashes in recent weeks, with three top-20 finishes in four races, including a second-place finish at Nashville. Front Row Motorsports has publicly expressed its “fondness” for Smith, so returning to the team may not be out of the picture.

It’s hard to judge Smith too harshly since he’s spent this year away from the team he’s under contract with. However, he has struggled, and it has caused some to wonder if he has what it takes in the Cup Series.

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