NASCAR racer Zane Smith gives on upcoming Coke Zero Sugar 400 race

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It’s one of NASCAR’s biggest stages from the Daytona 500 in February to the Coke Zero Sugar race in August.

“Daytona is, I mean, an animal that’s own, number one,” racer Zane Smith said.

Smith is the Craftsman Truck Series champion of 2022. Now he has a full-time Cup ride.

“It’s a tough transition just because everyone on Sunday is really good, and they have so much experience, and experience goes such a long way,” he said.

As a new Cup driver, he’s also navigating the changes associated with a totally different ride.

“Right now, with the new next Gen Cup car, the Cup car is different than anything I feel like anyone has ever driven,” Smith said.

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 also presents him and other drivers from small teams a huge opportunity to perform on one of NASCAR’s most storied tracks.

“They’re just big races, and they always end in such dramatic fashion,” Smith said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to to win there twice in the Truck Series, and there really is no other place probably than winning at Daytona.”

Of course he’ll be competing with NASCAR’s best drivers and the leaders in the Cups points standings — Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson — as he tries to put his name higher on that list.

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