NASCAR: Whitt and Gilliland Out At Front Row Motorsports?

The NASCAR silly season continues when it comes to Front Row Motorsports. A recent update to their website suggests them getting rid of one car and possibly two drivers.

We are only seven weeks away from the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 but that doesn’t mean that everything is set heading into the Super Bowl of NASCAR.

One of the Sprint Cup Series teams that still has some holes to fill is Front Row Motorsports. It was announced a couple of weeks ago that Chris Buescher will be driving the No. 34 machine for Front Row in 2016. The addition of Buescher also came with it rumors that Front Row would downsize from a three-car team to a two-car team. That speculation left many wondering whether it would be Cole Whitt (No. 35) or David Gilliland (No. 38) getting the ax.

While there still isn’t any official word, it seems as though both Whitt and Gilliland could be on their way out. Currently the Front Row Motorsports website only lists the No. 34 and No. 38 cars as being a part of the team. Absent from the lineup is the No. 35 machine that was driven by Whitt in 2015. Furthermore, under the driver section only Buescher is listed with the driver of the No. 38 machine listed as TBA.

What seems to be for certain is that the No. 35 machine will not be in the mix in 2016.

Beyond that it’s possible that the team could bring back Whitt or Gilliland to pilot the No. 38 and they are not on the site simply because deals have not been announced. Then again, it’s also possible that the team has moved on from Whitt and Gilliland and with the addition of Buescher (and the technical alliance with RFR) the team is ready to move in a completely different direction.

Assuming that Front Row isn’t bringing back Whitt or Gilliland, what options are out there?

• David Ragan – Ragan used to drive for the team and he actually began 2015 in the No. 34 machine. Ragan is still looking for work after the closure of MWR.
• Sam Hornish Jr. – While an unlikely candidate, Hornish Jr. is looking for work after parting ways with RPM and the No. 9 machine.
• Jeb Burton – There has been no word on what is happening with Burton and the No. 23 machine for 2016. If Burton doesn’t have a deal in place he could join Buescher at Front Row.
• Regan Smith – Smith is no longer a part of JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series thus potentially making him available if a solid Cup offer came along.
• Brett Moffitt – Moffitt was in the No. 34 machine for a portion of 2015 and while it would seem likely they would being back Whitt or Gilliland before Moffitt, his name is still out there.

BTF reached out to Front Row Motorsports about a timetable for the announcement and we were told that “a lot of things were still in play and there is not a timetable at this time.”

More racing: Buescher To Front Row Is Good For Everyone Involved

It would seem that for now everyone will have to take the wait-and-see approach when it comes to Front Row. Which driver do you think would be the best fit in the No. 38 machine in 2016? Be sure to comment below and let us know what you think, you can also reach out to us via our various social media platforms.