NASCAR News: Noah Gragson Confirms Future In Multi-Year Contract Announcement

Noah Gragson has signed a multi-year partnership with Front Row Motorsports. The contract, which starts with the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, aligns him with the Ford Performance Organization, transitioning from Stewart-Haas Racing, which is scheduled to cease operations by the end of 2024.

Speaking about the new partnership, Gragson commented during a press conference with the media:

“It’s definitely exciting times. When we started out this year, I didn’t know how I was going to run. I didn’t know if I had the potential to run in the Cup Series just based off how the 2023 season went, and to be able to get my feet underneath me with the opportunity at Stewart-Haas, it definitely opened people’s eyes.

“And with the challenges that have come about with Stewart-Haas, we were looking for a home for a long time, and that’s when I got introduced to [co-owners] Bob [Jenkins] and Jerry [Freeze].

“Being able to sit down with them and talk and see what their goals were, what their vision was, and the thing that stuck out in my mind most importantly is what Jerry said when we met was Bob’s goal is to grow each and every year, and through the experiences that I’ve had in the last several years it’s been fun to challenge myself.”

Front Row Motorsports hinted at significant plans to broaden their involvement within NASCAR by moving to a three-car operation starting in 2025, upscaling from their current two-car setup. While specifics about Gragson’s future crew chief, car number, and partners remain under wraps for now, the excitement from within the team is palpable.

Gragson also anticipates reuniting with Todd Gilliland, a former teammate at Kyle Busch Motorsports. Reflecting on their time together, Gragson commented:

“Todd and I have been racing each other for the past, probably, 10 years. We had some fierce battles on the race track, became teammates over at Kyle Busch Motorsports and it’s going to be nice to be able to rekindle that relationship on the race track as teammates now. It’s been a few years in between, but I think from all our learnings from the past organizations that we both had been at we can definitely work together and help each other to become better.”

He concluded on the new partnership:

“I think just from a young age, I was taught loyalty and loyalty in people. Bob and Jerry have given me an opportunity so I do feel like there’s opportunity to grow as a leader, as a driver on and off the race track and having that stability. I’ve jumped around from JR Motorsports in 2022, to Legacy last year, and at Stewart-Haas this year, Front Row next year that’s four teams in four years.

“To be able to come into the race shop after a year under my belt and already know the employees’ names January 1 and build relationships, that’s important to me.”

Jerry Freeze, co-owner of Front Row Motorsports, also commented during the press conference:

“When we told the team this morning, there’s a lot of enthusiasm about it for sure. I think Noah, he’s a likable guy for sure and brings a big personality to the team and the energy and I think people are just excited to know that. Filling the void of Michael McDowell leaving is hard without a doubt and so Noah coming in, somebody that people are excited about, kind of a very different personality than where Michael is in his life, I think is definitely just brought a real spirit to the shop and I think people are just excited to get to know Noah and get to work”

From an organizational viewpoint, Bob Jenkins, also a co-owner, shared his expectations for the team’s future, particularly highlighting Gragson’s yet-to-be-realized potential.

“Without knowing exactly who’s going be driving our third car, it’s hard for me to say everything. But I think this is what you can expect. I think you’re going to have three young but experienced drivers that they’re youthful, that they’ve gotten that first couple of years out of the way and I think people will look at Front Row Motorsports and say ‘this is a team that could be together for a long time.’

“The thing I’m most excited about with Noah is that he’s not even really hit his ceiling. He’s still growing in the sport, getting better every week and I’m just excited to see where it goes.”

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