Front Row Motorsports confirmed on Tuesday that Todd Gilliland, son of David Gilliland and one of the many rising young talents in the sport, will graduate to the NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 38 Ford Mustang starting in 2022.
The announcement comes just a few weeks after the team confirmed Anthony Alfredo would not return to the team, leading Front Row to seek their fourth driver in four seasons for the No. 38 entry.
“I feel like I’ve found a home at FRM,” Gilliland said. “I’ve been around the team when I was growing up and watching my dad race. I joined the truck team here and it has been a good place for my career. I can’t wait to step up into the NASCAR Cup Series. I know the challenges ahead, but I’m planning to be here and help grow with this team for a long time.”
Going Cup racing in 2022 with @Team_FRM and @FordPerformance . What a special day. Couldn’t be more excited for next year!!! @FastLaneMediaNC pic.twitter.com/mZg0V5WYDf
— Todd Gilliland (@ToddGilliland_) November 30, 2021
Last season, Front Row fielded the No. 38 F-150 entry for the younger Gilliland in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with the driver putting up impressive numbers for the team. After scoring a win at COTA in May, Gilliland locked himself into the 2021 edition of the Playoffs. The young driver also led FRM to a fourth-place finish in the owner’s championship.
“Todd has been a part of the FRM family before he even started his own racing career,” added owner, Bob Jenkins. “We know that Todd is committed to helping our No. 38 program. He helped us launch our truck program into a winning team and that’s our goal for him and the 38 Cup team.”
Gilliand will be joined by Seth Barbour on the pit box, and the pair will make their Cup debut at the Charlotte Next Gen test in December.
The 21-year-old joins an impressive Sunoco Rookie Of The Year battle with Harrison Burton for the Wood Brothers and Austin Cindric for Team Penske. Gilliland is also the second full-time Cup Series driver to compete after being born at the turn of the century.
The addition of Todd to the Front Row Motorsports Cup operation marks the second Gilliland to enter the Series with the team. His father David spent seven seasons with Front Row with a majority of his starts coming in the No. 38 Ford. The older Gilliland was a part of the iconic 1-2 finish for the organization at Talladega in 2013 with Ragan scoring the first win for the organization.
As far as the No. 38 entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Zane Smith will move from GMS Racing to Front Row after an impressive late-season surge in 2021.
2021 Daytona 500 champion Michael McDowell and crew chief Drew Blickensderfer will also reunite for the fifth straight season. With five top-10 finishes and a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs, the season was a banner year for Front Row.
“I’m really looking forward to 2022 and the fresh start it brings across the sport,” said McDowell. “It’s an exciting time for the NASCAR Cup Series and for us at FRM. We have proven that we can win and now we want to find that consistency throughout the season to be even better.”
One Response
I’m not sure if I am happy or sad for Todd Gilliland! Four drivers in four years is not a good stat. Maybe Todd will be the one that sticks!