FRM Acquiring Third Cup Charter

Front Row Motorsports will expand to three NASCAR Cup Series teams in 2025 via its acquisition of a third charter, FRM announced May 29.

Its release did not specify the charter it had purchased, though Stewart-Haas Racing announced May 28 it would not be returning in 2025 with its four currently chartered entries.

“We have a very positive outlook on the future of NASCAR and as the sport plans for success, so do we,” FRM owner Bob Jenkins said in a team 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.”

“It is good to get the news out now as we have a lot of work to do to prepare a new team,” FRM GM Jerry Freeze added. “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.”

FRM currently fields the Nos. 34 and 38 for Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland, respectively. McDowell has already announced he will depart the team for Spire Motorsports after 2024, while Gilliland’s status for next year is unknown.

In 2024, FRM entered a third car, the No. 36, at Daytona International Speedway.

The team had three full-time cars in the series until the end of the 2019 season, when it moved back to two.

McDowell has four top 10s in 2024, while Gilliland has one.

In addition to its Cup teams, FRM fields the No. 38 for Layne Riggs in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Though no driver plans have been announced for next year yet, the release indicated the team plans to return to the circuit in 2025 as well.