Up to Speed: Front Row Motorsports' Year of Challenges
Picture this: a NASCAR team bursting with potential, poised to make waves in the elite Cup Series, only to hit roadblocks that turn optimism into frustration. It's the tale of Front Row Motorsports (FRM) in 2025, and trust me, it's got all the drama of a high-stakes race—complete with twists that could reshape the team's future. But here's where it gets controversial... could this struggle really be the spark for bigger changes in the sport? Let's dive in and unpack what went wrong, why it matters, and what it might mean for fans and the industry alike.
As the NASCAR Cup Series barrels toward the checkered flag of the 2025 season, eyes usually laser in on the championship contenders. That's understandable—those epic battles for the title make for thrilling storytelling. Yet, amid the playoff frenzy, teams that fall short often fade into the background, their stories overlooked like forgotten pit stops. Before we flip the calendar to 2026, though, it's crucial to pause and reflect on Front Row Motorsports' journey this year. This squad seemed ready to break through, but instead, they've grappled with setbacks that raise eyebrows and spark debates about resilience in racing.
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Heading into 2025, Front Row Motorsports had plenty of reasons for excitement. Sure, they bid farewell to their seasoned veteran driver, Michael McDowell, but their other wheelman, Todd Gilliland, demonstrated solid progress in 2024. He climbed to 22nd in the points standings after languishing in 28th for the prior two seasons. Gilliland wasn't about flashy overtakes or headline-grabbing drama, but he consistently pushed for top-20 finishes instead of settling for top-30s. For beginners in NASCAR, think of this as a driver leveling up his skills—like a rookie mechanic mastering the art of quick tire changes—showing clear signs of forward momentum.
Gilliland inherited McDowell's former No. 34 car for the new season, while Zane Smith slid into the No. 38. Smith's stint with Spire Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing wrapped up after a rocky debut year in 2024, but he shone brightly in the latter half with four top-10 results. Returning to FRM, where he'd previously clinched a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title, felt like a natural fit—a homecoming for both the driver and the team searching for stability and speed.
FRM also expanded to a third full-time entry in 2025, bringing in Noah Gragson as the driver. The organization has dabbled with three-car operations before, but with limited success. Still, their deepening ties to Ford and the shutdown of Stewart-Haas Racing—a once-dominant Ford-aligned powerhouse—suggested this was the perfect moment to try again. Gragson, fresh from SHR, was seen by many as a wildcard: talented, unproven in the Cup Series spotlight, and capable of making a huge impact if he landed with a supportive squad.
Sadly, those high hopes have largely fizzled. With just three races left in the season, the team has mustered only two top-five finishes, 10 top-10s, and a mere 37 laps led. Gilliland sits at 30th in the overall points, Gragson lags at 33rd, and Smith, the strongest of the trio, is in 27th. For context, that's not the breakout performance they envisioned. And this is the part most people miss—every other multi-car Cup Series outfit with chartered entries has at least one driver ranking higher than all three FRM racers. Teams like Spire, Legacy Motor Club, and Kaulig Racing have either advanced or stayed steady compared to 2024, while even RFK Racing, despite a tough year, has all its Ford-driven cars outperforming FRM's. It's clear the team hasn't climbed the Ford hierarchy as hoped, leaving aspirations for growth and competitiveness unfulfilled.
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So, what derailed Front Row Motorsports this season? The elephant in the garage is undeniably the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. While 23XI Racing and driver Denny Hamlin have been vocal about the case, grabbing headlines with their advocacy, FRM has been quietly involved from the start. Team owner Bob Jenkins has invested significant behind-the-scenes effort, and it's likely draining the organization's resources.
Compounding the issue, FRM's cars forfeited their charter status early in 2025 due to the lawsuit, stripping away the financial perks tied to those charters. For NASCAR newcomers, charters are like VIP passes in racing—they guarantee spots in races and come with bonus payouts, making them vital for team budgets. FRM has never been a wealthy outfit, lacking the deep pockets of someone like Michael Jordan, and they've pressed on admirably. But how long can they endure without charters? It's a question hanging over the team like a dark cloud, especially if they're not restored.
It's also tempting to ponder if McDowell's departure hit harder than expected. He notched two of the team's four victories, including the prestigious Daytona 500 in 2021 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course win in 2023—their most recent triumph. That 2023 campaign stands out because McDowell was on the cusp of a playoff berth before the Indy victory clinched it, marking the first (and so far only) time an FRM driver neared postseason contention. His ability to extract peak performance from FRM's machinery was legendary, symbolizing what the team could achieve under the right circumstances.
Offseason shifts added to the mix. When McDowell joined Spire, his crew chief Travis Peterson followed suit. Thus, Gilliland, moving to the No. 34, paired with new crew chief Chris Lawson, while Smith's No. 38 retained Ryan Bergenty. Gragson's No. 4 squad drew heavily from his SHR days, including crew chief Drew Blickensderfer, but it was a fresh setup for FRM. Absorbing SHR personnel seemed smart, yet the expansion hasn't catapulted the team to new heights—highlighting how personnel changes can be a double-edged sword, like swapping engines mid-race.
All this paints a bleaker picture for FRM's horizon than last year. A comeback in 2026 isn't out of the question, given their reliance on young talent that still has room to develop. But if the lawsuit spells doom, those drivers might not get the time they need, potentially leading to the team's closure. That'd be a heartbreaking end for a squad that's weathered NASCAR's ups and downs for two decades. Fingers crossed, FRM bounces back, leaves 2025 in the dust, and gears up for stronger showings ahead.
What do you think, fans? Is the antitrust lawsuit unfairly punishing teams like FRM, or is it a necessary shake-up for NASCAR's competitive balance? Do you believe young drivers deserve more patience, or should underperforming teams face stricter consequences? Share your takes in the comments—agreement or disagreement, let's discuss!
Bryan Gable
Bryan started contributing to Frontstretch in 2016 and has been crafting Up to Speed pieces for eight years. With a lifelong passion for auto racing, he's a published author and automotive historian hailing from Columbus, Ohio, now calling Southern Kentucky home.
