NASCAR
Noah Gragson, Zane Smith Both Join Front Row Motorsports for 2025 NASCAR Cup Series
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Two of the last remaining seats in NASCAR silly season have now been filled. Front Row Motorsports will see Noah Gragson and Zane Smith each join their Cup Series lineup for 2025. For Smith this move is a bit of a homecoming; he returns to the team where he won the 2022 Craftsman Truck Series title.
Gragson, 26, will take over a newly branded No. 4 Ford Mustang. Gragson spent the 2024 season with Stewart-Haas Racing, and has now inked a multi-year deal with FRM. The Las Vegas native has seen great success in Truck and Xfinity competition. Across 59 Cup starts, Gragson’s also seen seven top-10s. Gragson’s 2024 results saw him finish 24th in points. Gragson will remain teamed up with veteran crew chief Drew Blickensderfer and much of his past SHR No. 10 team.
“I’m grateful to have my crew chief, Drew, along with four members from last year’s team join Front Row Motorsports,” said Gragson. “This gives us a strong foundation to hit the ground running in the 2025 season.”
Zane Smith meanwhile returns to a familiar setting, taking over the No. 38 Mustang. Smith earned most of his past Truck Series success with FRM, capped off with the 2022 championship. Smith, 25, was a Cup Series rookie last season with Spire Motorsports. 2024 saw the California driver earn a runner-up result at Nashville, as well as two top-fives and four top-10s.
“I’ve always felt at home with Front Row Motorsports,” said Smith. “They believed in me when I signed with them to race in the Truck Series initially in 2022 and we shared so much success together, winning six races and a championship in two seasons. Unfortunately, everyone had to make tough decisions because there were only two Cup cars available at Front Row Motorsports going into last season when I was ready to move up full-time.”
“Now, going into next year, Front Row has really taken their Cup program to another level and I cannot think of a better lineup of teammates. Todd and Noah are great friends of mine and we all have a lot to prove as young drivers in the Cup Series. It is a great time to come back and continue to build my career with an organization where I know I can win.”
Smith’s crew chief will be Ryan Bergenty, who saw success with Todd Gilliland in 2024. Bergenty and Smith also worked together for six Cup races in 2023.
“This finalizes our drivers for 2025 in the Cup Series and we can now make all our teams as strong as possible,” said team owner Jerry Freeze. “We have come a long way, but there is a lot more ground to make up, too. We now have the drivers who can build on where we are today and take us to the next level.”
The FRM Truck Series program that put Zane Smith on the fast track to NASCAR stardom also returns for 2025. Layne Riggs hopes to build off his Rookie of the Year status and win more races in the No. 38. Chandler Smith also joins Riggs as a teammate.
Alongside Todd Gilliland’s veteran presence now in the No. 34, the Front Row Cup trifecta is one of the youngest rosters for 2025. With this much youth may come growing pains. Their drivers all possess the talent needed to win at NASCAR’s highest level. Do not be surprised to see a Front Row car make a Playoff appearance this season.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credits to Front Row Motorsports
