By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Tuesday night’s return for the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series saw drivers knock the rust off in their first race since February. One of which was rookie Zane Smith, who drove his No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet to a third-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Making just his fourth career start in the series, the 20-year-old took it to the veterans of the sport in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, at one time passing Kyle Busch and Johnny Sauter in a three-wide move for a front-running position.
Overall, the Californian led 15 laps, his first in the series, and scored a career-best result.
“It was a really good night,” Smith said. “My first time getting stage points. An awesome night. I was so determined to get third. I was holding off Brett [Moffitt] as much as I could. I got really tight with about seven to go.”
You have my attention @zanesmith77 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Mark Martin (@markmartin) May 27, 2020
In his first national start at Charlotte, the track came quick to Smith.
“The bottom was the place to be if you were up front,” he said. “I didn’t have a cool box or anything, so I was hot. That was my biggest problem.
“Our truck ran really good tonight. The battle between the [No.] 13, Chase and Kyle was really fun because they will race you really hard yet clean. Whenever I had a run, I was sure to use it. I was just doing everything I could to help my teammate out and get my name out there.”
With finishes of 11th, sixth and now third in 2020, Smith leaves Charlotte third in driver points, the highest of the GMS drivers.
“I need a win though,” he said. “I probably would have had it tonight if there weren’t two Cup guys in it. But I love racing with those guys.”
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Fantastic job, Zane!! Take the dang CUP guys out and it was YOUR win!! Keep up the great work–you’re an upcoming winner!