NASCAR: 5 driver moves we want to see for 2023

NASCAR driver moves we want to see: No. 5 – No changes at FRM

Front Row Motorsports have made some sort of driver change after every season since they began competing in the NASCAR Cup Series back in 2005. Could that finally change after 2022?

Despite being issued a 100-point penalty after the race at Pocono Raceway, Michael McDowell is in the midst of a career year in what is his fifth season behind the wheel of the #34 Ford. He told us before the season that he expected the Gen 7 car to be the equalizer that gave Front Row Motorsports the ability to compete for good results, and he has done exactly that.

McDowell, who won last year’s Daytona 500 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in his Cup Series career, has a career-high nine top 10 finishes through 24 races this year, which is four more than his previous career-high for an entire 36-race season. Additionally, it is as many or more than seven of the 16 drivers currently in the provisional playoff picture.

As for rookie Todd Gilliland, it has been more of a struggle, but that is to be expected. However, a recent career-high fourth place finish in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course race should hopefully quiet the talk of him potentially being on the hot seat.

When he was signed by the team, it was clear they signed him as a long-term investment, and that investment is already starting to pay off. Why bail this soon?

It will be easy for a lot of fans to suggest that they should opt to replace one of their current drivers with Zane Smith, who has emerged as a star for the organization’s Truck Series program this year following two consecutive runner-up finishes in the championship standings with GMS Racing.

This suggestion became even easier to make because of the fact that Smith filled in for Chris Buescher behind the wheel of the #17 Ford for RFK Racing back in June at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway while Buescher was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.

He did a commendable job, finishing in 17th place in his Cup Series debut — ahead of both McDowell and Gilliland.

But unless McDowell retires, there is no reason for the team to move on from a driver who is peaking at this stage in his career, and there is no reason to give up on Gilliland after only a single season.

How many of these moves will come to fruition for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season? While not all of them involve any change, all could have a significant impact on the complexion of the driver lineup for several years to come.