Trackhouse Racing announced Saturday that it has signed Zane Smith to a multi-year deal and will put him behind the wheel of a Cup car in 2024 with Spire Motorsports, which purchased the charter from Live Fast Motorsport.
Per The Athletic, Spire purchased the charter for $40 million, topping the previous high of $13.5 million that 23XI Racing paid StarCom Racing in 2021. A charter guarantees entry for a car into the field of every NASCAR Cup Series points race.
Live Fast Motorsports said that it will continue racing part-time in 2024 with a non-chartered car.
Trackhouse Racing’s two-car Cup lineup for 2024 is Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez. Smith will run for Spire Motorsports in their third car, joining Corey LaJoie and Ty Dillon.
“It just means the world to me,” an emotional Smith said in Saturday’s press conference at Bristol Motor Speedway of being signed by Trackhouse and go Cup racing.
“I almost didn’t have anything a couple of years ago. This is the place I want to be. Three hundred sixty-five days ago, I sat at a Bob Evans with a very close friend and he asked me where I wanted to race one day. I think he expected maybe some different answer. My answer was Trackhouse. Almost 365 days later I signed a contract with them.”
Smith will officially join the team in January.
“I will do whatever it takes to win on Sunday, and I have that chance thanks to (Trackhouse owner) Justin Marks,” Smith said.
So happy for Zane. LFGGGGGG!
— Skewcar (@Skewcar) September 16, 2023
Owners of both teams wouldn’t comment but expected Spire purchases Live Fast charter. Spire a place for Zane Smith (under contract w/Trackhouse) for 2024. Was funny to see Hocevar, likely in 77, & Smith parked side-by-side in truck garage Thu when could be Cup teammates in 2024. https://t.co/4kR1gSX0J4
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 16, 2023
congrats @ZaneSmith!
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) September 16, 2023
Congrats Zane! pic.twitter.com/1H7Y7SbMK7
— John Haywood (@JHay97) September 16, 2023
