Drew Blickensderfer has been a name that seems to have to get etched with Noah Gragson and now the partnership will enter into the 2025 Cup Series season as well. While it seemed for Blickensderfer, like others at the Stewart Haas Racing team that he had found a home, fate had other plans. After SHR announced they were closing operations completely, the veteran crew chief had to find a new home for him.

The camaraderie between them has been endearing, especially as Gragson called him his “big brother”. Here’s what you need to know about the man who has been making headlines recently.

Who is Drew Blicksenderfer?

Born on November 12th, 1976, Blickensderfer is a native of Illinois. He has achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Daytona 500 twice as a crew chief. Blickensderfer has been associated with the world of motorsports as long as he can remember and given his tenure, he is indeed one of the best people to guide Noah Gragson with his Cup Series entry. Being a Cup Series crew chief for 16 years now, Blickensderfer did have a good run with Gragson as well in the past season. 

His first victory came in 2009 with Matt Kenseth while working for Roush Fenway Racing. In 2021, he repeated history once again when he accomplished the same feat with Michael McDowell and Front Row Motorsports.

From helping in drag strips to NASCAR Crew Chief: Drew Blicksenderfer headway into the elite series of NASCAR

It was from his family members like his uncle and grandfather that Drew Blickensderfer inherited the passion for the track and his career started by visiting the drag strips. After relocating to North Carolina, Blickensderfer began his career as a rear tire changer and mechanic for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.’s No. 1 car, eventually transitioning to Bill Davis Racing. Later, he joined Roush Racing in 2003.

This is where he worked as a crew member on the No. 60 car in the Busch Series and later on Mark Martin’s No. 6 Cup car. In 2007, he was promoted to crew chief for the No. 17 Busch Series car. His new role in the team led to three victories during their time in the series.

Blickensderfer marked his very first victory for the No.17 Sprint Cup as a crew chief for the Daytona 500 in 2009. At the start of the 2010 NASCAR season, he served as Matt Kenseth’s crew chief for the Daytona 500. Shortly after, he joined Roush Fenway Racing yet again. In 2012, he joined Richard Childress as a crew chief for Jeff Burton. Finally, it was in 2022 that he joined Stewart Haas Racing for Aric Almirola. While Gragson replaced Almirola, Blickensderfer continued to be his crew chief.

Why did Drew Blicksenderfer leave Stewart-Haas Racing?

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Stewart Haas Racing had formally announced that the team would cease operations completely after the 2024 season. The official announcement said, “We have made the difficult decision to close Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season. It is a decision that did not come easily, nor was it made quickly. Racing is a labor-intensive, humbling sport. It requires unwavering commitment and vast resources, with a 365-day mindset to be better than everyone else. It’s part of what makes success so rewarding. But the commitment needed to extract maximum performance while providing sustainability is incredibly demanding, and we’ve reached a point in our respective personal and business lives where it’s time to pass the torch”. 

As the team ceased operations, it goes without saying that the drivers and the crew chief that the team housed had to look out for alternative options. Consequently, it became important for Drew Blicksenderfer to search for alternate options. It helped him sustain himself in the field of NASCAR and pursue his passion.

Will the teaming of Noah Gragson and Drew Blicksenderfer prove to be fruitful in the 2025 Cup Series?

Drew Blickensderfer will be returning to Front Row Motorsports as the crew chief for Gragson and the No. 4 team for the 2025 season. In 2024, they achieved notable success, securing 16 top-15 finishes, seven top-10s, and one top-five result. Blickensderfer is no stranger to FRM. 

He has previously served as the crew chief for Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang team in 2021. His role became instrumental in McDowell’s victory at the Daytona 500. Speaking of the experience that he is anticipating, Blickensderfer said, “I’m excited to be back with Front Row Motorsports. I had a great experience working for Bob (Jenkins) and Jerry (Freeze) before, and now returning alongside Noah makes this opportunity even more special”.

The partnership between Noah Gragson and Drew Blickensderfer holds great promise for the upcoming 2025 season drive. With a proven track record of success, both individually and as a team, their reunion at Front Row Motorsports is set to build on the momentum that they worked on in 2024. Combining Gragson’s talent and Blickensderfer’s extensive expertise of 16 years, this duo can carve the legacy of the No.4 car.