What’s Happening?

Noah Gragson could be the next SHR driver to find his future home, as Bob Pockrass reports that Gragson is “A favorite” to end up at Front Row Motorsports. Would this make sense for Gragson and FRM?

• Noah Gragson is currently in his second Cup Series season. After a forgettable first year with Legacy Motor Club, he’s shown some promise in the No. 10 car for Stewart-Haas Racing. Despite sitting 25th in points, he has five top-10 finishes alongside a top-five at Talladega. Now, he’s searching for a new ride with SHR shutting down at the end of the season.
• Front Row Motorsports has two open seats for 2025, with Michael McDowell moving on to Spire Motorsports and intentions on starting a third car, assumedly through purchasing one of SHR charters. FRM has already signed Todd Gilliland to a multi-year extension to drive the No. 38 car.
• Fans would love to see Gragson get an opportunity to drive at FRM. It could be the best opportunity to come across his doorstep this off-season.

Why This Makes Sense for Gragson

Noah Gragson is the young gun out of the SHR bunch left, and Front Row Motorsports might be his best option. The only Ford rides Gragson “Could” hop into in 2024 are The Wood Brothers, Front Row, Haas Factory Team, and Rick Ware Racing. Kaulig Racing and 23XI Racing could also have open seats for 2024, but Kaulig is a struggling Chevy team, and 23XI is a Toyota team with plenty of candidates for that seat.

FRM is a “Tier One” team, the only such team on this list besides 23XI Racing. This means FRM receives more direct support from Ford than other teams, and FRM is aligned with Team Penske, one of the top teams in the sport. FRM also ranks the highest of the above-listed teams in the current owner’s points.

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FRM is the best-performing team right now, and its “Tier One” status protects it well into the future. Sure, The Wood Brothers has a direct alliance with Team Penske, but Gragson must work up to the”Tier One” team. Rick Ware Racing and Kaulig Racing have sometimes shown potential, but they are not a “Tier One” team.

How important is being a “Tier One” team to a team’s success? Since 1990, only three Championship winners have not come from current “Tier One” teams: Alan Kulwicki in 1992 (Owner/Driver), Dale Jarrett in 1999 (Robert Yates Racing), and Martin Truex Jr. in 2017 (Furniture Row Racing).

While Front Row’s performance is not at the level of some other “Tier One” teams, it has all the pieces together to become a true contender. It projects better than any other team Gragson could end up with.

Why This Makes Sense for FRM

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Of the SHR free agents, Gragson has the best blend of talent and funding. He brings Bass Pro Shops, and he’s shown promise on the track this season. He also worked his way up to being an eight-time winner in his fourth Xfinity Series season in 2022.

Gragson is a young driver, but he’s not a rookie. He should be right on the cusp of reaching his potential, and that’s where Front Row sees value in him. If he’s going to break out, this is the time to do it, and they can provide some stability to a driver who will likely be racing for his third Cup Series team in three years next season.

Plenty of drivers are available, but Gragson can be good immediately. FRM is ready to contend now.

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