Front Row Motorsports has secured a third team Charter and the organization will expand to three full-time NASCAR Cup Series teams beginning with the 2025 season, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.
While the team announced the acquisition of a Charter, the team did not disclose where it acquired a Charter from or what specific Charter that it has in its possession. For now, Front Row Motorsports is simply stating that the new Charter comes from, “recent openings.”
The Front Row news comes on the heels of Stewart-Haas Racing, which holds four team Charters, announcing on Tuesday that they will close the doors on their NASCAR program at the end of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.
According to the announcement from Front Row, which extended and increased its relationship with Ford Performance heading into the 2024 season and forged a competition alliance with Team Penske, the team will remain in the Ford family and will field Ford Mustang Dark Horses in the NASCAR Cup Series as well as a Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2025.
FRM is committed to the sport long-term, and the team is excited to expand back to three full-time teams in 2025.
“We have a very positive outlook on the future of NASCAR and as the sport plans for success, so do we,” team owner Bob Jenkins said in a press release. “Today that means having a plan for expanding back to three cars in the NASCAR Cup Series. I always have the vision to continue to grow and improve our team and that commitment and desire never changes. I am committed to the sport and its passionate fans and partners.”
While Front Row Motorsports has fielded a third part-time entry over the last few seasons, the organization has fielded three full-time cars in the NASCAR Cup Series in the past, 2019 being the most recent season. The organization’s leadership knows the work that is ahead to make the third team a successful venture, and they’re up for the challenge.
“It is good to get the news out now as we have a lot of work to do to prepare a new team,” said Jerry Freeze, General Manager, Front Row Motorsports. “All of us on the leadership team will be working through that, obtaining the parts and pieces needed for the new team. And, most importantly, adding to the dedicated and talented staff and culture that exists today within our organization.
“Starting a new team from scratch is always a challenge, but with the opportunities in front of us, the talent we have in our leadership, and a bit of a runway to get there, I am confident that we can produce three competitive programs out of the box for the 2025 season. We haven’t lost sight of what our goals for 2024 are, to get our teams into the playoffs for both series. If we can keep up the speed on track and have a little bit of luck to come our way, we can achieve our objectives.”
Heading into this weekend’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway, the two Front Row Motorsports cars, which are driven by Todd Gilliland and Michael McDowell, sit 23rd and 24th respectively in the NASCAR Cup Series owner standings.
McDowell, who has two wins under the Front Row Motorsports banner, announced earlier this season that he will depart the team at season’s end and separately announced that he will pilot the No. 71 entry for Spire Motorsports in 2025.
