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NASCAR: Front Row Motorsports keeps David Ragan, adds Michael McDowell

By Alex Herbst

SPARTA, KY - JULY 07: Michael McDowell, driver of the #95 WRL General Contractors Chevrolet, talks with David Ragan, driver of the #38 Brandeis/Komatsu Ford, during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
SPARTA, KY - JULY 07: Michael McDowell, driver of the #95 WRL General Contractors Chevrolet, talks with David Ragan, driver of the #38 Brandeis/Komatsu Ford, during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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Perhaps one of the perennial underdogs in NASCAR, Front Row Motorsports confirmed a two-car lineup for 2018, keeping one half of their driver pairing.

The little team that could has found success at the top levels of NASCAR. Front Row Motorsports started out as an underfunded one-car operation by Bob Jenkins, and eventually evolved into a multi-car team that is always a contender at the big tracks. The team has two wins to their credit, and will be looking to add to that total in 2018. Team FRM announced their two-car lineup for the new year on Thursday, keeping half the squad the same from 2017.

In a press release, the team announced they will once again field two full-time entries in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, for drivers David Ragan and Michael McDowell. Ragan drove the #38 Ford in 2017 for the team, and is one of the two drivers to score wins with Front Row Motorsports. Michael McDowell now partners with Ragan, replacing Landon Cassill who drove the #34 Ford in 2017. McDowell previously drove for Leavine Family Racing for four years, but was replaced for the coming season by Kasey Kahne.

David Ragan had this to say about continuing his Cup Series career with Front Row, according to ESPN:

"“Bob Jenkins and I have developed a good relationship over the years, both professionally and personally. I believe in this team and am proud to have been part of its growth and its successes. I’m excited that Bob and Ford have agreed to take the program to the next level, and I’m happy I’ll be here to help the team continue to grow."

Michael McDowell is excited to get to work with FRM and team owner Bob Jenkins.

"“Since I first drove for Bob at Watkins Glen, we’ve kept in touch and have felt like there might be an opportunity to work together again, and the timing worked out perfectly. It’s been a while since I’ve had a teammate, so I’m really looking forward to working with David, whom I’ve become pretty good friends with over the years. As a team now, we go into the season knowing we have five or six races that put us in position to get a win and earn a spot in the playoffs.”"

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The team will also continue their relationship with Ford, which dates back to their expansion into a multi-car team in 2010. Front Row will also benefit from an enhanced technical alliance with Roush-Fenway Racing in the next year, with hopes to see one or both of their cars win and advance into the playoffs. Team numbers, sponsors, and crew chiefs remain to be announced.

Bob Jenkins, team owner of Front Row Motorsports, is jubilant and ready for the 2018 season to get underway:

"“Ford has been a great partner for us for the past eight seasons, and we’ve agreed to work together to step up our program quite a bit. We’ve got a lot vested in our partnership – relationships, knowledge, data – that we’re going to build on to make improvements both in the shop and at the track.“David has been a great team member for us in his years with Front Row, both on and off the track. And Michael is a great addition to our team. I’ve been impressed with his talent watching him over the years and excited that he’ll be representing us and our partners next season.”"

There is no word from the team yet about the status of a planned expansion to three cars for 2018. The team had purchased an additional charter ahead of the 2017 season, leasing it last year to TriStar Motorsports. Per the NASCAR rulebook, the team will have to either sell that charter or use it on one of their existing cars, or else face potentially losing it. This is the same charter, however, that remains tied up in a legal mess thanks to BK Racing.

Next: Casey Mears moving on from stock car racing?

How do you think Front Row Motorsports will fair in 2018? Will Michael McDowell and David Ragan exceed expectations or be trapped at the back of the pack once again?

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