In late August, Zane Smith found himself unemployed, not even one year into his multi-year contract with Trackhouse Racing. Back on the free agent market, Kevin Harvick said that Smith could have trouble getting back to FRM, as Ford could be the hold-up. However, it sounds like Smith going back to FRM is a real possibility, so what happened?
Zane Smith made a name with Front Row Motorsports in the Truck Series, winning six races and a championship in 2022 and 2023. While there were high hopes that Zane would be at FRM this year, he shockingly signed with Trackhouse Racing to race with Spire Motorsports instead.
This season started poorly for Zane, and despite his recent solid runs, Trackhouse, with just one new charter, announced that the team was parting ways with Zane and bringing Shane Van Gisbergen to the Cup Series in 2025.
While many fans expected and hoped for Zane to return to FRM next season, a shocking source said one major factor stands in the way of Smith’s return to Ford and FRM.
On the Aug. 27 episode of Harvick’s Happy Hour, the topic of Zane Smith and FRM’s future was a brief yet vital topic of discussion. Harvick said that Ford, rather than FRM, “might be frustrated” with the driver’s departure.
“The only thing that I believe Zane’s in a, you know, strange position at this particular point. Because I thought he was going in the… in the, 34 car. I really thought that’s where he would he would wind up. But it sounds like Ford might be frustrated with, you know, a lot of the things that… that happened when he left the Ford camp. And might not… might not be an opportunity there because of the manufacturer.” — Kevin Harvick
If this were true, this would complicate Smith’s position as a free agent, as most of the major rides in the Cup Series were off the board or had plausible rumors as to who their next driver is.
However, a recent report from Jordan Bianchi of the Athletic says that if the sponsorship comes together, a reunion could be in store for Smith and FRM. So, what happened to this reported frustration?
While bringing Smith back is probably the choice of FRM, Harvick worded this carefully, using terms like “it sounds like” and “might not.” However, some fans pointed out that Harvick might have an interesting issue with Smith not signing with FRM.
Harvick owns KHI Management, which manages many NASCAR drivers, including Silly Season candidates Riley Herbst, Ryan Preece, Harrison Burton, Justin Haley, and Corey Lajoie. This connection does sound like a conflict of interest, as Harvick was the only one saying these things.
However, there is evidence suggesting that Harvick was talking just talking racing, not working an angle. While some people would suggest that Kevin said this to affect Zane’s free agency, four of the five KHI drivers already have serious rumors connected to them for 2025:
While none of these are set in stone, credible reports say these teams are these drivers’ likely landing spots. Furthermore, Harvick did say that he thought Smith would return to FRM prior to hearing about this frustration.
Despite everything said, if Smith returns to FRM, this is just another forgotten rumor of Silly Season. If Smith finds himself elsewhere, maybe Harvick was onto something.
What do you think about all this? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
It wouldn’t be Daytona without some weird, wacky, and headline-grabbing fallout. From viral Victory Lane moments to renewed debates about driver approval, NASCAR’s biggest race once again delivered more than just on-track drama. And with Michael Jordan celebrating a Daytona 500 win, the spotlight burned brighter than it has in years.
Jordan’s presence mattered. When the most iconic athlete of a generation shows genuine emotion upon winning the Daytona 500, it reminds the wider sports world that this race still matters. That kind of authentic publicity cannot be manufactured. It resonated far beyond the garage. Meanwhile, the O’Reilly Series race added fuel to another ongoing debate. The massive Decker crash, Cleetus McFarland’s Truck debut incident, and past approval inconsistencies have once again raised tough questions. Consistency, transparency, and accountability are now front and center. Add in Austin Hill’s dominance and Ryan Ellis’ career-best sixth-place run to open the season, and Daytona gave fans plenty to talk about on and off the track.
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On May 12, 2000, the NASCAR world arrived at New Hampshire International Speedway expecting another race weekend. Within hours, Adam Petty was gone. His death would become the first domino in an 18-month stretch that forever changed NASCAR’s approach to safety and reshaped the sport at its core.
Adam wasn’t just the grandson of Richard Petty or the son of Kyle Petty; he was a young driver building his own path, fresh off his Cup debut at Texas Motor Speedway and preparing for a future with Dodge and Petty Enterprises. His passing stunned the garage and deeply impacted fans who saw the Petty family as part of their own. From the unanswered mechanical questions to the emotional aftermath that eventually led to the creation of Victory Junction, this is where the Firestorm begins. The fear, the controversy, and the transformation of NASCAR safety all trace back to that Friday in Loudon.
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The O’Reilly series race at Daytona turned into a breaking point. One crash, one late reaction, and suddenly the conversation wasn’t just about race results, it was about standards, accountability, and who truly belongs at this level of NASCAR competition.
The Decker incident reignited long-standing perception issues, especially when outside commentary from figures like Mike Davis amplified the embarrassment factor. At the same time, NASCAR has stepped in before, blocking Wallace, sidelining others like Jennifer Jo Cobb, yet those interventions feel inconsistent. Wright’s pit road mistake added fuel to the argument that funding can outweigh readiness. McFarland, meanwhile, represents a different case, raw but potentially coachable, with time to develop if he chooses that route seriously. Money has always shaped racing careers, but when sponsorship outweighs preparation, the sport risks its credibility. Should NASCAR tighten its standards, or is this simply the cost of doing business in modern motorsports?
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