Overview
- FRM confirmed Smith will drive the No. 36 Ford Mustang Dark Horse as a fourth, open entry for the 2026 Daytona 500.
- Smith has two prior Daytona 500 attempts (2023, 2025) that ended short of the field, making this his third try and first with FRM.
- The team’s three chartered Cup cars — No. 4 (Noah Gragson), No. 34 (Todd Gilliland) and No. 38 (Zane Smith) — are already locked into the race.
- A crowded slate of open entries is expected, with contenders such as Justin Allgaier, Corey LaJoie, Corey Heim, Anthony Alfredo, BJ McLeod, JJ Yeley and Casey Mears, while Jimmie Johnson has a guaranteed spot via an exemption.
- Smith remains a full-time FRM driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and emphasized that his primary goal is the 2026 Truck title, with strong Daytona stats supporting the attempt.