Front Row Motorsports Bolsters Ford Performance Relationship; Upgraded to Tier 1 Program

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is renewing and strengthening its relationship with Ford Performance, the organization announced in a press release on Thursday, ahead of what is the organization’s 20th season in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The strengthened relationship between the team and manufacturer coincides with a new technical alliance with Team Penske, the organization responsible for winning the last two championships in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Ford has been a crucial part of the success of Front Row Motorsports in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, dating back to the organization’s debut season in 2004. In the two decades since, the organization has scored four victories at NASCAR’s top-level — including the 2021 Daytona 500 with Michael McDowell.

During the team’s relationship with Ford, Front Row Motorsports also expanded into the NASCAR Truck Series, with the manufacturer contributing to the immediate on-track success of the program with Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith, both of whom are now competing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“I am proud to wear the blue oval and be associated with an iconic American brand in Ford,” Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports said. “Our relationship with Ford has continued to build over the past decade and we’re now showing our success over the past several seasons in the Cup and Truck Series, and that is something that I’m very proud of.”

As part of the multi-year agreement, Front Row Motorsports will be upgraded to a Tier 1 Program in the NASCAR Cup Series. Starting in 2024, the team will now collaborate with Team Penske on engineering, aerodynamics, race setup, strategy, pit crew development, and other projects, putting FRM in a stronger position for years to come.

The strengthened relationship will also have Front Row Motorsports working alongside Ford Performance to develop Layne Riggs in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, while also serving as a landing spot for future development drivers, following in the footsteps of both Gilliland and Smith.

“A racer’s mindset isn’t suited to be patient. We all want results immediately, but the way Bob Jenkins and Jerry Freeze have built Front Row Motorsports through the years is a model for how it should be done,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We’ve always been proud of our partnership and can’t wait to see how much higher they can go with this new Team Penske alliance.”

On Wednesday, McDowell guaranteed himself a starting position on the front row for the 2024 Daytona 500, slotting in just behind Joey Logano, the 2022 champion of the NASCAR Cup Series. The performance matched the Phoenix, Arizona-native’s best-ever starting spot.

This season, Front Row Motorsports will field the No. 34 and No. 38 Ford Mustang for drivers Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland. The organization will also field the No. 36 Ford Mustang for Kaz Grala in at least the 2024 Daytona 500, should he qualify for the field via Thursday’s duel races.

-- Image Credit: Nigel Kinrade, NKP, Courtesy of Ford Performance