Michael McDowell, the final driver to take time in single-car qualifying, will start from the pole in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season at Daytona International Speedway after shooting to the top of the leaderboard at …
Michael McDowell, the final driver to take time in single-car qualifying, will start from the pole in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season at Daytona International Speedway after shooting to the top of the leaderboard at 183.165mph (49.136s).
It is McDowell’s fourth pole of the season and third on a superspeedway. He had never won a pole in the Cup Series before this year.
Todd Gilliland, McDowell’s teammate at Front Row Motorsports, will join him on the front row. Gilliland qualified second at 182.801mph.
Joey Logano qualified third (182.341mph); Ryan Preece, fourth (182.312mph); Josh Berry, fifth (182.197mph) and Chase Briscoe, sixth (182.194mph), rounding out a dominant performance by Ford.
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William Byron qualified seventh (182.057mph). Austin Cindric, also in a Ford, qualified eighth (181.998mph); Kyle Larson, ninth (181.899mph) and Chase Elliott completed the top 10 (181.752mph).
Chris Buescher qualified 13th. Buescher is 16 points above the cutline going into Saturday’s race. Martin Truex Jr., who is 77 points above the cutline, qualified 17th.
Bubba Wallace, the first driver below the cutline by one point, qualified 18th. Ross Chastain, who holds the final spot on the playoff grid, qualified 24th.
Tyler Reddick qualified 25th. Reddick is the Cup Series championship points leader.
Shane van Gisbergen qualified 32nd.
There are 40 drivers entered in Saturday night’s race. Erik Jones will start last after he did not complete his qualifying lap in his Legacy Motor Club Toyota because of a mechanical issue.
Qualifying was the only on-track time Cup Series teams had on Friday.
NEXT: The Coke Zero Sugar 400 at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Front Row Motorsports’ top candidate for its third car in the NASCAR Cup Series has been revealed. Who could join Front Row in 2025?
[autotag]Front Row Motorsports[/autotag] has one of NASCAR’s most intriguing openings as the organization acquired a third charter for the 2025 Cup Series season. To this point, Front Row Motorsports has signed Noah Gragson and given Todd Gilliland an extension, leaving the final car open. However, one driver has been labeled as the favorite to land the ride in 2025.
According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, [autotag]Zane Smith[/autotag] is the top candidate to join Front Row Motorsports; however, Smith’s hold on the seat becomes more uncertain as time passes. Smith previously ran for Front Row Motorsports full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series, with select starts in the Cup Series. It would be a massive reunion, but it likely needs sponsorship.
Smith signed with Trackhouse Racing last year but likely won’t have a ride with the organization due to a possible new rule that requires teams to cap out at three charters. With van Gisbergen the likely favorite for a third car, Smith could rejoin Front Row Motorsports. It will be fascinating to see whether the two sides can come to an agreement or not.
Front Row Motorsports had Noah Gragson at the top of their board. It was the only name the organization needed, landing Gragson in a multiyear deal announced Wednesday. Gragson’s team program will be laid out in the coming weeks as the organization …
Front Row Motorsports had Noah Gragson at the top of their board.
It was the only name the organization needed, landing Gragson in a multiyear deal announced Wednesday. Gragson’s team program will be laid out in the coming weeks as the organization leaves car numbers and other details open until its full driver lineup is finalized. But in the meantime, the organization got the driver it wanted in 25-year-old Gragson.
“I think for the whole package,” Front Row general manager Jerry Freeze said in explaining its choice. “I think once he got in the 10 car this year, you saw what he was capable of on the track. He could run up in the top 10, and he doesn’t seem to take any flak on the racetrack. Kyle Busch is mad at him one week and this guy is mad at him the next week, and I kind of like that. He’s not out there to make friends.
“We saw his success in the Truck Series. We saw his success in the Xfinity Series. Last year was incredibly rocky for him, but he’s rebounded, and he’s gotten into a good operation.”
Freeze did his due diligence before Gragson was signed. One of the individuals Freeze spoke to was Drew Blickensderfer, who previously worked at Front Row Motorsports. Blickensderfer is Gragson’s current crew chief at Stewart-Haas Racing, working with a young driver after spending multiple years overseeing teams for veterans Michael McDowell and Aric Almirola.
One of the questions Freeze asked Blickensderfer, “’Well, how is it going with this crazy kid?’
“He was so glowing in his praise for Noah with what he’s done in the offseason building those relationships with them — the road crew, pit crew, marketing and all of that. Everything I heard talking to friends of mine about Noah with Stewart-Haas was positive and he was the fastest guy in their stable arguably the first seven or eight races. So, when we knew Michael was moving on and the opportunity to get the charter and man, we’re going to have to find two drivers here, it was like, who is available? I just thought he could be the whole package of a young guy with some experience, a lot of talent, a lot of success in the lower series, who is looking to make his mark, and marketable.”
Rusty Jarrett/Motorsport Images
Freeze was surprised to see how popular Gragson is with race fans. Gragson appeared in the top-10 trackside sales reports multiple times last season, which Freeze saw because they are sent to teams.
“So, I just think it’s the whole package he brings to the table,” Freeze said.
“Some guys are really good drivers and might be a challenge marketability-wise but I think he checked all the boxes for what you look for.”
Gragson, Todd Gilliland and a third driver to be announced will have Front Row Motorsports fielding three full-time entries next season for the first time since 2019. The organization announced May 29 that it had purchased a third charter.
The expansion wasn’t necessarily surprising to Freeze, who said it happened quickly. In fact, he vividly remembers the day at Bristol when teams began hearing there would be a chance to make offers on charters. Bob Jenkins, the owner of Front Row Motorsports, was so excited that it made Freeze shake a bit.
“We had three charters for one year when we bought BK Racing out of bankruptcy, and it was a huge challenge for us,” Freeze said. “We weren’t ready at that point to run three cars and we quickly sold off that charter and focused on two cars. But I know in the years since Bob has regretted we sold that charter. Bob is a self-made guy… and to him, incremental growth is the key to success.
“He always regretted that we sold that charter and so I think he wished we would have stayed the course with three teams. So, when he found out, hey, there’s an opportunity to get in on possibly acquiring another charter, even though the price had jumped quite a bit from the last time, he believes in this sport in the long term enough that he wanted to make that investment. It was kind of on from Bristol.”
Front Row Motorsports addresses the idea of signing Zane Smith for 2025. Find out what Front Row said about Smith possibly returning!
[autotag]Front Row Motorsports[/autotag] is one step closer to finalizing its NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup for 2025. On Wednesday afternoon, Front Row Motorsports announced that Noah Gragson has signed a multi-year contract to drive in the Cup Series starting in 2025. However, what about the last seat, which is open due to a recently acquired charter?
FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass asked Front Row Motorsports general manager Jerry Freeze about the possibility of signing [autotag]Zane Smith[/autotag] to the team’s third car. Freeze was honest about the possibility and expressed interest in Smith.
“We’ve still got really fine feelings for [Zane Smith],” Freeze said. “He did a phenomenal job for [Front Row Motorsports] for two years with our [NASCAR Truck Series] team. I think a year ago, if we had a third charter, it would’ve been a no-brainer that Zane Smith would’ve been driving the third car. I think that’s what [Bob Jenkins] was really wishing for and hoping for last year at this point.”
Could Zane Smith, if NASCAR limits teams to three charters (JGR and HMS would likely be grandfathered in with four) and he is the odd driver out at Trackhouse, return to Front Row Motorsports? FRM general manager Jerry Freeze wouldn't rule it out. pic.twitter.com/LV1W8ajoON
“If Zane were to be a free agent for next year, I think that’s something that we would certainly be interested in for sure. I don’t know that he is, but we really believe in Zane’s talent. He’s gonna be a star. Everybody’s gotta go through that learning curve in the [NASCAR Cup Series], and he’s no different than [Todd Gilliland] was…I think he’s a star in the making, without a doubt.”
Smith signed with Trackhouse Racing in 2023 but could be the odd man out if Shane van Gisbergen moves to the Cup Series starting in 2025. It’s unclear where Smith would go or if he would continue his contract with Trackhouse Racing. If not, Front Row Motorsports could be a great landing spot for Smith, and the team wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.
Noah Gragson will join Front Row Motorsports in 2025. The multiyear deal will see Gragson compete in the NASCAR Cup Series with the team. The car number, crew chief and partners for Gragson will be announced at a later date. “We feel that this is a …
Noah Gragson will join Front Row Motorsports in 2025. The multiyear deal will see Gragson compete in the NASCAR Cup Series with the team. The car number, crew chief and partners for Gragson will be announced at a later date.
“We feel that this is a great opportunity and the perfect time to bring Noah to our organization,” said owner Bob Jenkins. “He has just the right amount of experience in the NASCAR Cup Series to break out and become a winner for years to come. This season, Noah has started to get the finishes and race consistently up front, which was expected from him.
“Joining our team, staying with Ford Performance, and welcoming him to our partners, we are only going to accelerate his opportunity to win races and compete in the playoffs. This is the driver that we want to help get us more wins.”
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Gragson, 25, joins the organization from Stewart-Haas Racing, which is shutting down at the end of the year. He will be teammates with Todd Gilliland and a third driver still to be named. Front Row Motorsports is expanding to three cars next season with the addition of a third charter.
The 2025 season will be Gragson’s third full year in the Cup Series. By joining Front Row, he remains in the Ford camp.
“I think a lot of people have seen the growth of Front Row Motorsports over the past several seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Gragson. “This team, with Ford Performance, has shown it is capable of winning and wants to win more. Meeting Bob (Jenkins) and Jerry (Freeze), there is a determination and plan to continue to grow and compete against the absolute best. There is a strong commitment on their part, and I am ready to give it my best next season.
“Until that time, I want to say that I’m staying focused on the task at hand at Stewart-Haas Racing to finish the season with intentions of racing for wins with them.”
Gragson failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 in 2021 with Beard Motorsports but returned in 2022 to run a limited schedule with the team. He also ran races for Kaulig Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, serving as a substitute driver for the latter when Alex Bowman suffered a concussion. In 18 starts, Gragson earned one top-10 finish.
Legacy Motor Club hired Gragson for the 2023 season. However, a mid-season suspension for liking an insensitive meme on Instagram ended Gragson’s season and his tenure with Legacy Motor Club. Stewart-Haas Racing brought Gragson back into the Cup Series by hiring him to replace Aric Almirola in the No. 10 Ford Mustang.
Gragson has made 59 starts in the Cup Series to date with seven top-10 finishes.
Front Row Motorsports announced on Wednesday that Noah Gragson will drive full-time for the team during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
[autotag]Front Row Motorsports[/autotag] has two openings in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2025; however, one of those seats has officially been filled. On Wednesday afternoon, Front Row Motorsports announced that [autotag]Noah Gragson[/autotag] will drive full-time for the team during the 2025 Cup Series season, with the car number, crew chief, and more “to be announced.” Gragson currently drives full-time for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Cup Series.
The driver of the No. 10 car needed to find a ride after Stewart-Haas Racing revealed it would shut down after the 2024 NASCAR season. Gragson has impressed after signing a multi-year contract with the organization, as he sits 23rd in the point standings. The 25-year-old driver has one top-5 finish and six top-10 finishes, which is on pace with Chase Brisoce at Stewart-Haas Racing.
This is a great landing spot for Gragson, as Front Row Motorsports’ relationship with Ford increased to a Tier 1 status before the 2024 NASCAR season. Now, he will join another Cup Series organization on a multi-year contract. Gragson might be on his third Cup Series team in three years; however, he hopes to call Front Row Motorsports home for the foreseeable future.
Front Row Motorsports will announce a new NASCAR Cup Series driver for 2025 on Wednesday. Who could be joining Front Row Motorsports?
[autotag]Front Row Motorsports[/autotag] has two open seats in the NASCAR Cup Series, with Todd Gilliland already locked down for the foreseeable future. This comes after the NASCAR organization announced that it would field three full-time entries in 2025. However, one of those two open seats will be announced in the near future.
On Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. ET, Front Row Motorsports will announce one of its new drivers in the Cup Series for the 2025 season. Several drivers have been linked to Front Row Motorsports, such as Cole Custer and Riley Herbst, but Noah Gragson is widely expected to be announced on Wednesday. Gragson is looking for a ride with Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down.
The announcement will be live-streamed on Front Row Motorsports’ YouTube channel. The organization’s open entries are great landing spots, as it now has a Tier 1 relationship with Ford. Front Row Motorsports has seen an increase in performance in 2024, and it will likely be even better when NASCAR arrives for the 2025 Daytona 500 in February.
Sam Mayer has been linked to a shocking team in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2025. Which team could Mayer unexpectedly join in 2025?
[autotag]Sam Mayer[/autotag] has been full-time with JR Motorsports since 2022 but is finally turning the corner as a driver. Since the start of 2023, Mayer has six NASCAR Xfinity Series victories, including two in 2024. However, the driver of the No. 1 car hasn’t been in consideration for many NASCAR Cup Series rides, which frustrates him. Yet, that appears to be changing quickly.
According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Mayer is an expected candidate to fill one of the two openings at Front Row Motorsports for the 2025 Cup Series season. This is shocking, as Mayer has been with Chevrolet his entire career. Yet, the lack of openings at Chevrolet teams in the Xup Serie could be a driving force in Mayer’s decision to look at other manufacturers.
The 21-year-old driver would be an appealing option for Front Row Motorsports, as the team increased its relationship with Ford to a Tier 1 status ahead of the 2024 NASCAR season. Mayer wants to race on Sunday in NASCAR, and Front Row Motorsports could be his best shot yet. It will be fascinating to see if Mayer can land one of the two open seats.
Noah Gragson has been linked to a new team in the NASCAR Cup Series for the 2025. Which team is Gragson considered a “favorite” for 2025?
[autotag]Noah Gragson[/autotag]’s journey in the NASCAR Cup Series has been a rollercoaster. Gragson joined Legacy Motor Club for the 2023 season but left in August after being suspended for liking an offensive social media post. Then, the 25-year-old driver signed a multi-year contract with Stewart-Haas Racing. With the NASCAR team shutting down, Gragson needs a new team, and he’s been labeled a favorite for one in particular.
Gragson would be a great fit at Front Row Motorsports, creating a strong core alongside Todd Gilliland. It may not be Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing, but it is a good race team capable of making the playoffs. Gragson’s journey has been up and down to this point, but Front Row Motorsports would allow him to settle down long-term.
Front Row Motorsports announced on Wednesday that Todd Gilliland has a signed a multi-year contract extension in 2024.
[autotag]Front Row Motorsports[/autotag] will have a new look for its NASCAR Cup Series program in 2025; however, [autotag]Todd Gilliland[/autotag] won’t be going anywhere. On Wednesday morning, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland will return to the organization after signing a multi-year contract extension. A number wasn’t announced for the 24-year-old driver.
As of June 2024, Gilliland sits 22nd in the point standings, which is two spots higher than Michael McDowell, who is leaving for Spire Motorsports. The driver of the No. 38 car only has one top-10 finish but has a 21.3 average finishing position and four straight top-17 finishes. Gilliland has also led 101 laps, which ranks 16th in the Cup Series.
This was a great decision for both Gilliland and Front Row Motorsports. After losing McDowell, the NASCAR team needed to secure Gilliland as he continues to improve in his third full-time season. Gilliland has been better during the 2024 NASCAR season, and another jump in performance wouldn’t be shocking as the team’s leader next year.
