In the beginning of its 20th anniversary season, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) has announced a renewed and strengthened relationship with Ford Performance. The renewal coincides with a new technical alliance with the defending NASCAR Cup Series championship team, Team Penske.
Ford has been a part of Front Row Motorsports foundation and successes in the Cup Series dating back to the 2004 season. Memorable moments include FRM’s first win in 2013 with David Ragan at the Talladega Superspeedway, FRM’s first pole with David Gilliland at the Daytona International Speedway in 2014, Michael McDowell’s victory in the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 in 2021, and the most recent win at the Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by McDowell. Ford has been the manufacturer for all four Cup wins.
Also, in the time with Ford Performance, FRM expanded into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the 2020 season. The partnership contributed to immediate success on track including the 2022 championship with Zane Smith, and 8 race victories with Smith, Todd Gilliland and Brett Moffitt.
“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.”
FRM and Ford Performance will not only expand their relationship over a multi-year agreement but increase the partnership to a Tier 1 program. FRM will now collaborate with Team Penske on engineering, aerodynamics, race setup, strategy, pit crew development and other projects. The alliance and additional support will position FRM to be stronger on track for years to come.
Another pivotal role, FRM will work with Ford Performance to develop Layne Riggs in the Truck Series and continue to be an avenue for future development drivers following in the footsteps of Gilliland and Smith in the FRM championship truck.
“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.”
FRM will field two NASCAR Cup Series entries in 2024, including Michael McDowell in the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and Todd Gilliland in the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Layne Riggs will make his full-season debut in the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season.
Front Row Motorsports PR
