Smith Earns Best Finish of 2024 with Runner-Up at Kansas
Venue: Kansas Speedway
FINISH: 2nd
Start: 9th
Laps Led: 29
No. 91 NCTS Owners’ Points Position: 9th
Zane Smith showed out on Saturday night at Kansas Speedway and turned in a runner-up performance. The driver of the No. 91 Instacoat Premium Products (IPP) Chevrolet Silverado RST drove to a stage win and his best result in four starts with MHR this season and his third-consecutive top-five finish. The result gives the No. 91 team, led by crew chief Kevin Bellicourt, a 30-point advantage over the provisional cut line in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) owners’ points halfway through the regular season.
Smith displayed long-run in strength during practice on Saturday morning by posting the third-quickest 10-lap average and turned in a ninth-place qualifying effort. When the green flag dropped, he made a beeline to the front, immediately advancing to fourth on the opening lap. He quickly grabbed the runner-up spot on the lap seven restart and took the lead for the first time on lap eight. After leading four laps in the opening stage, he settled into second and ran there until the end of Stage 1 on lap 30.
Bellicourt and the IPP team equipped Smith with four tires and fuel during on the first pit stop and allowed him to restart third on lap 38. He instantly flexed his muscle on the restart and took the lead on lap 40. Smith drove away for the balance of second segment and claimed his first stage win of 2024 on lap 60.
After making his second stop for four tires and fuel, Smith restarted seventh but remained undeterred. He wasted no time rejoining the top five shortly after the restart on lap 69. Despite contending with a loose condition, Smith remained one of the fastest trucks and advanced to third by lap 82. Bellicourt called Smith to pit road under green for his final stop on lap 95 for four tires and fuel on the front side of the green-flag pit cycle. The decision netted Smith the second position by lap 103 and began to set his sights on the race leader. Smith was the fastest truck in the waning laps and came within 1.08 seconds of the race leader to take the checkered flag in second.
Zane Smith Quote:
“Definitely had the truck to beat tonight, I think. It was really fast with our Instacoat Chevy. Just hard on pit road. Lost eight spots, and that’s just too tough to make up with how short these races are. Unfortunately, that was the issue for tonight. I’m still super comfortable in a truck and can maximize what I need in a truck right away. I enjoy my time when I get to run in the Truck Series and appreciate MHR for allowing me to come here and do this.”