Zane Smith banked a fifth-place finish in Friday night’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). The driver of the No. 91 Speedy Cash Chevrolet Silverado RST notched his second top-five finish in three races for MHR this season and elevated the No. 91 team to ninth position in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) owners’ points standings.
Smith began the longest NCTS race of the season from the 12th position and immediately advanced from the outset. By lap 19, Smith had cracked the top five and established himself as a threat for the victory. Despite a lack of lateral rear grip on corner exit, Smith maintained his spot in the top five and collected seven points in fourth position at the end of Stage 1 on lap 40.
The MHR team gave Smith four tires, fuel, and chassis and air pressure adjustments on the first pit stop to aid his handling condition. Smith restarted eighth on lap 47 and went forward once again. The subsequent 35-lap run was run under green flag conditions and saw Smith advance to seventh by the end of Stage 2 on lap 80. Crew chief Kevin Bellicourt called for another four-tire change, fuel, and minor adjustments on the pit stop during the stage caution.
Smith restarted the final segment in ninth position on lap 87 and once again made his presence felt by progressing forward. He advanced to sixth by lap 95 and ran longer during the green-flag pit cycle than any other lead lap truck. He was scored as the race leader when he came to pit road on lap 131. A caution flag flew while Smith was on pit road, which allowed him to drive through without stopping and trapped several trucks one lap down. The fortuitous break allowed him to restart sixth on lap 142. Over the final 25 circuits, Smith was able to capitalize on restarts and an improved balance to score a fifth-place finish, his second in three starts for the MHR team.
Zane Smith Quote:
“Definitely too many ups and downs. I felt like if we didn’t struggle as bad as we did on pit road, and it kind of just in traffic, we’d be standing in victory lane. Just too many ups and downs. We finished a stage fourth and be excited about picking in those first two rows and lost like five spots on pit road. I slipped in my box on the first one, but just lacked a little bit there. In traffic, just some work to be done going into Kansas. I feel like we definitely gained on it from Vegas. I feel like the areas we know we need to work on. Big thanks to Speedy Cash and everyone at MHR for having me out here, allowing me to better myself and prepare for not only tomorrow, but Sunday.”
