Justin Marks explains the "easy decision" to choose SVG over Zane Smith for a full-time Cup Series seat.
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59 comments
2025 is going to be such a weird season (in a good way though)
Still wish phoenix wasn’t the champ race.
Hopefully Homestead will be back in 2026
@@chasebriscoefan14 or even Kansas at this point would be cool as well.
@@chasebriscoefan14 492 days left till 2026.
Focus on the empty stands in America! You people are as pathetic as nascar executives
Never thought I’d see the day that the 88 would be driven by someone with no Dale Jr connections post 2008.
Itll be connors in a few years.
I feel conner will be 99. @@MrKamino
Why though ? Dale Jr. Was a mediocre driver that used his father’s posthumous fame to get good rides that he drove to small success. He was outperformed by his teammates everywhere he went.
I wondering what’s going to happen to Kyle Busch if they race in Mexico?
El Arbusto, the first masked luchador stock-car driver
I think Suarez wins Mexico mainly cause he was born in Mexico and has probably race there before.
Why is he wanted there for something?
I hope Zane Smith has a full time Charter ride in Cup next year and beyond
Pockross said he will be allowed to race in Mexico
Trackhouse did nothing wrong
Before you get on the “Woe is Zane” Train, remember his exit from Ford also. When you keep getting let go and the people who let you go aren’t praising you, you might be the problem
I get the same vibe. I believe in Zane’s talent, but he may be a tough fit personality-wise
Going off the rails on the Zane Train
@EricEstepp I’ve worked around Zane this past season at MHR, and I can tell you with a great amount of certainty and confidence he is not a tough person to get along with or work with.
@@MotorRacingNGravy Worked around, not employed.
What a depressing couple of weeks for Zane 🙁
In happier news Layne Riggs got his first truck series win!
Layne is talented, he’s been unlucky this season but I think a few seasons in trucks will help him grow.
as a fan of the 88, i am very happy to see the number back in the cup series. the 88 is one of the most used numbers in nascar history and its got a new home. To all who complain, this was not dale jr’s number to keep and their has been many hall of fame drivers before that drove that number
True. Juniors real number will always be the 8 in my book. I think more of Dale Jarrett when people mention the 88.
@@adammasters1491I’ll drink to that.
Darrell Waltrip drove the 88 Mountain Dew car to many wins in his career also. A driver or team has to pay a fee every year to keep that number . Hendrick or Dale Jr would be stupid to pay that fee with no intentions of running it
Thank You.
are charters tied to numbers or is that a different system
It’s nice to see winning rewarded. Leading xfinity wins should lead to a cup deal. Feel bad for Zane, but he also decided to skip xfinity, and you’re seeing the results of that this year.
Except he finishes 20th or worse everywhere else in Xfinity in cup he’s gonna get humbled.
@mikehoncho3695 13 of his 19 ovals he’s finished top 20, with 3 top 10s.
@@samhempsall1903Clearly someone isn’t looking at the Xfinity standings (SVG is currently 12th in points, not great but not horrible either)
@@samhempsall1903Clearly someone isn’t looking at the Xfinity standings (SVG is 12th, not great but not horrible)
Zane Smith sounds like a good candidate to drive for RFK if they decide to expand to a third team next year.
I heard that Ford is pretty pissed at Zane for leaving, But who knows honestly….
Maybe Harrison Burton could get the RFK 60 if RFK decide to buy a third charter or Harrison goes back to Xfinity.
@@BraydenBunch58 they need to get him back, especially with kroger coming on board
Literally almost anyone but preece
@@BraydenBunch58i heard that too maybe he goes to 2311
SVG is a playoff driver every year if you have 4 or more road course races in the regular season. Betting odds would be 90% chance SVG wins a cup race each year at a road course. Use to be said about AJ, but SVG is a tier above AJ.
I’m very excited for Shane in the #88, Can’t wait to see how he does!
I also immediately questioned the tone of the conference right when Zane’s name was mentioned. Justin Marks just seemed frustrated that anyone even dared to bring it up. I will give benefit of the doubt, there probably was a plan to have all 4, but the charter agreement rumors preventing that, and this is the first time Trackhouse had to make a tough decision and fire a driver. So everything about this was just awkward to begin with anyway.
It’s pretty damning of Justin not to at least mention Zane Smith by name. If he’s so dismissive of Zane Smith, why did he bother signing Zane Smith to begin with?
Here’s his quote from September 2023 on signing Zane Smith,
“As that conversation started happening and conversations around the garage area about what growth looks like for Trackhouse, there was a short list of names and Zane was pretty much at the top of that list the whole time. Huge fan of him, what he’s accomplished in the race car, his talent and his grind.”
Definitely feels like a sharp 180
The original plan was for Zane and Shane getting a car but with the probability of 3 car teams it axed the possibility of it
SVG finally got the number he was suppose have 8 years ago.
For those that dont know ppl thought he was gonna take the 88 or 888 car in V8 Supercars in 2016 but his new team then Triple Eight Racing basically said, “nah we’re just gonna run an extra (third) car just for him” and so he kept the 97.
Oh so that’s how that happened.
Trackhouse uses #88 in MotoGP too with Miguel Oliveira
Not next year when Oliveira takes it to Pramac.
Anyone that thinks Zane had a chance over SVG doesn’t follow the sport. Zane is a great prospect; I think he can win races in the right situation. But SVG was always going to get that third Trackhouse ride, no doubt about it.
Zane was the back up plan if SVG flopped in xfinity this year, but he’s been ok, and been getting better.
If he did good this season maybe, but he has been horrible so yea not shocked
As a Trackhouse fan, the whole Zane thing is definitely weird to me. The only way I can look at it that makes it look good is if Justin Marks saw this as a moment to focus of SVG and not talk about someone else, but it was still handled poorly. Very strange considering how supportive Marks and Trackhouse has always been of their drivers though.
NASCAR to Mexico is a dream come true! Hope you’re able to make the trip Eric! Mexico is awesome don’t let the news terrorize you. I’ve lived here for 15 years and it’s safe.
Dream come true? It’s an American sport! Focus on the empty stans
Its a race I will not be watching, taking a race from my home track.
To give Trackhouse the benefit of the doubt on Zane Smith, there’s a very real possibility he was signed with the intention of being in a 4th car. I know Marks said in the conference that 3 was the number they wanted, but with the rumors of a 3 team maximum charter agreement, you have to wonder if plans changed