As the NASCAR Playoffs heat up, Bristol always has a way of flipping the script. Remember Michael Waltrip’s 1990 run at the speedway? His car began to slide at Turn 2 and then crashed into the outside wall. The impact was so bad that the car was nearly ripped in half and was practically a carcass. It was a crash so bad that onlookers, even Darrell Waltrip, were petrified after seeing the debris. Kyle Petty, Mike Harmon, Danica Patrick, and many other NASCAR drivers have fallen victim to the antics of the track. But with so much on stake, how far will a winless team go to secure a victory there?
With Bristol on the NASCAR travel itinerary next, Front Row Motorsports has tightened its headband to go all in! ‘Why?’ you may ask. Well, Means-Jenkins Motorsport made its NASCAR Cup Series debut as FRM at Bristol Motor Speedway back in 2005. Yep, it all started with Stanton Barrett behind the wheel of the No. 92 car in the Food City 500. The result? A rough 41st-place finish after oil pressure issues ended their day early. Since then, Bristol hasn’t exactly been a gold mine for FRM — in fact, they’ve never won there. However, a NASCAR insider believes there might be a change in the storyline this season.
Is the playoff birth visible from where FRM stands?
Front Row Motorsports might not look like a top contender team for a deep playoff run, especially at a place like Bristol Motor Speedway. But in a season full of twists, Zane Smith is quietly building a compelling case to be this weekend’s biggest dark horse. “He’s been running between about 8th, 9th, and 15th, it seems like every single week,” said Dale Tanhardt. That kind of consistency in a mid-pack car? It’s the exact recipe that turns heads, especially when chaos hits under the Bristol lights.
Eric Estepp doubled down on the buzz, adding, “You’re right, I noticed him running top 10 at Darlington last weekend. I don’t feel like that got enough play on the broadcast.” And he’s right. Smith’s drive didn’t get flashy airtime, but the numbers are there.
“Something has clicked with Zane Smith to make me believe he is a viable option as a sleeper,” Tanhardt added. The claims aren’t baseless. Zane Smith eventually finished 12th at Darlington ahead of the likes of Joey Logano, Daniel Suárez, and Bubba Wallace. He is riding a 13.0 average finish over the last three races and has logged a strong P9 at Phoenix earlier this season. Phoenix, as we all know, is one of the more technical, short-ish tracks on the calendar.
Getting a strong result here is extremely difficult, even for experienced drivers. Overall, Zane Smith sits comfortably in the 22nd position with ample chances of moving up the ladder. These aren’t headline stats yet, but they’re the kind that hint at something brewing.
And don’t let the Cup Series inexperience at Bristol fool you. Smith knows how to hustle around the half-mile. In five Truck Series starts there, he’s collected three top-10 finishes. With momentum on his side, a knack for short tracks, and a chip on his shoulder, Zane Smith could be writing one of those stories this weekend. If the chaos breaks his way, the underdog might just take center stage.
Divided attention, unclear victory
While Zane Smith is making quiet waves on the racetrack, his team, Front Row Motorsports, is making noise elsewhere, too. Alongside 23XI Racing, FRM is part of the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, and their latest move shows they’re serious.
Both teams have requested financial documents from Formula 1. Why? To show how a successful, team-friendly model looks. They’re asking for revenue breakdowns, team profit-sharing structures, and even a copy of the Concord Agreement. For the uninformed, the Concord Agreement is F1’s version of NASCAR’s Charter system.
The teams argue that this data can help experts assess how NASCAR’s current structure may hurt teams financially. It’s part of their case claiming that NASCAR operates as a monopoly in stock car racing. They’re not just pushing for more money, they want a seat at the table.
One major difference between F1 and NASCAR? F1 teams get 50–60% of the series’ profits. In comparison, NASCAR teams reportedly receive about 50% of media revenue. Not total profits. That matters. F1 also uses a cost cap and gives teams more voice in decisions.
For FRM, this isn’t just about short-term gains. It’s about reshaping the business side of the sport. They’re a small team fighting for big stakes and using every tool available, both in court and on track. So, while Zane Smith is chasing top-10s at Bristol, his team is chasing fairness in the boardroom. Both fights matter. Both could shape the future of NASCAR. And both prove that Front Row is anything but quiet in 2025.
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