1. Is Front Row Motorsports in store for its biggest season yet?
Front Row Motorsports had its best NASCAR Cup Series season in history after Michael McDowell made the playoffs and dominated at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course last year.
It was monumental moment for the organization, but it’s not even close to the team’s potential ceiling.
Starting in 2024 — FRM’s 20th season in Cup competition — the team will expand its relationship with Ford and form a new alliance with Team Penske.
Part of FRM’s new deal with Ford Performance is its inclusion as what’s called a tier one program, which will feature increased support and communications from both Ford and Penske.
The partnership looked to be on full display during Wednesday’s (Feb. 14) Daytona 500 qualifying, as McDowell will start on the outside pole — tying the best start in his Cup career — alongside Penske’s Joey Logano for Sunday’s (Feb. 18) Daytona 500.
During Daytona 500 media day, McDowell said he expects to win this year and the next.
After two decades in NASCAR, FRM has built a formidable team with McDowell and third-year driver Todd Gilliland. Last year was not the end, but only the beginning.
2. Who will win Rookie of the Year in all three series?
There are three exciting rookie classes in the upcoming 2024 season. And while the race will be relatively uncontested in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, both the Cup and NASCAR Xfinity series will feature tight battles.
For Cup, the contenders are Josh Berry, Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith. Of the three, my pick is Hocevar. Right now, the biggest question mark surrounding him performance wise is the strength of Spire Motorsports. The team has made great strides in the past, but the team is still a way away from being a weekly contender. But 2024 will be the first full season with Gainbridge’s involvement in the team, and the Trackhouse connection with Smith’s No. 71 car will also serve to improve the team’s performance across the board.
Hocevar arguably has the highest ceiling of the three. He had multiple top-20 runs in Legacy Motor Club’s No. 42 last season, in what can only be described as the season from hell for the organization. One of these runs include an 11th at Bristol Motor Speedway after running top 10 most of the night. He may be inconsistent with poor results or wrecks based on…
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