Spire Motorsports has revealed some key information for 2024, including what number Zane Smith will be representing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Smith inked a deal with Trackhouse Racing for next season, but seeing as they already have Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez driving for them in 2024, he’s being leased out to Spire as part of a new alliance deal between the teams.
In the future, Trackhouse’s team will consist of Chastain, Suárez, Smith and Shane van Gisbergen, an exciting lineup of drivers. However, that’s not the case in 2024, as Smith will be wheeling the No. 71 for Spire.
“Some updates on Spire stuff: Zane Smith car number for Cup next year will be 71 (crew chief TBA) … truck lineup will be Nick Sanchez, Chase Purdy and a third full-time truck with multiple drivers (as Kyle Busch has said he hopes to run five truck races for the organization),” FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
As Pockrass added, Spire’s truck series team — formerly know as Kyle Busch Motorsports — will consist of Nick Sanchez, Chase Purdy and a third full-time truck, which Busch will likely run some races in.
Moreover, Smith has proved his mettle on the biggest stages, and now will get a chance to do so full-time in the Cup Series. He’ll certainly be in the running for Rookie of the Year.
Spire Motorsports is on the up and up, and the deal with Trackhouse for Zane Smith will help them in 2024 and beyond. We can’t wait to see the No. 71 on the track.
More on Zane Smith, Spire-Trackhouse Partnership
During his introductory press conference earlier this fall, Zane Smith made it clear that Trackhouse Racing was the team that he wanted to be with. It wasn’t an accident that he got this deal, either. Justin Marks and Ty Norris noticed Smith’s talents early on.
However, it was a recent race that solidified their plans to sign Smith. The 2022 Truck Series champion has proved himself in that series. It was his performance in the Coca-Cola 600 that pushed him over the edge with Trackhouse.
A top-10 performance at Charlotte in the most grueling race of the season was impressive. Zane Smith has been waiting for a chance like this. He thought it would come after his championship. It didn’t.
Everything has worked out for Smith, though. He’s ready to take on the Cup Series and this will give him the best chance to do it.