NASCAR Driver Pulls Back the Curtain on Global Rivalries That Shaped His Early Career A NASCAR driver reflects on intense childhood battles, unexpected rivals, and the lessons learned from racing’s co

He rose fast out of California’s karting and truck-racing ranks into the high-stakes of NASCAR’s top tier. Zane Smith, born in Huntington Beach, won the 2022 Truck Series Championship after several near-miss seasons before making waves as a Cup Series rookie in 2024. He surprised many with a runner-up finish at Nashville and followed that with another top five at Watkins Glen. But stepping from Trucks and part-time appearances to a full-time Cup schedule would test every bit of that early promise.

In 2025, Smith is deep in his sophomore Cup Series campaign, driving the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, and the stats tell a story of growth mixed with struggle. Over 29 races so far, he has earned 1 pole at Talladega, 4 top-10 finishes, 1 top-5, led 20 laps total, with an average start