Former Richard Childress Driver Hopes Third Times a Charm as He Prepares for the “Most Stressful Week” in Racing

Kaz Grala, behind the wheel of the #15 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing, is revving up for a packed schedule in 2024. He is gearing up for 25 races with RWR and the highly anticipated Daytona 500 with Front Row Motorsports. After a full season in the Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing last year, Grala is set to be the mainstay driver for the team’s second full-time slot, joining forces with crew chief Billy Plourde.

But with this being Kaz Grala’s third stint at the Daytona 500 in an open car, the pressure’s on, as he shared during a NASCAR teleconference, hinting at the nail-biting run-up to the big race.

The unpredictability of the Daytona 500

Kaz Grala is gearing up to tackle the whirlwind that is the Daytona 500, steering the #36 Ford Mustang with Ruedebusch Development and Construction backing him up. He’s stepping into the shoes of Zane Smith, who clinched P13 in last year’s Daytona 500 with a non-chartered entry. The race against the clock kicks off for Grala on February 14, where he’ll need to qualify on speed alone. Failing that, he’ll have his shot in the Bluegreen Vacation Duel races the following day to earn his spot in the season’s opener.

It’s been a minute since Kaz Grala hit the Cup Series track, with his last stint in 2022 making three appearances for The Money Team Racing. With seven Cup starts under his belt since 2020 and a couple of top-10s to his name, he is no stranger to the game. His first Cup run was a notable seventh-place finish on the Daytona road course, stepping in for Austin Dillon under the Richard Childress Racing banner.

Having battled his way into the Daytona 500 twice before, with Kaulig Racing in 2021 and TMT Racing in 2022, Grala’s had his share of ups and downs—from crash-induced 28th place finishes to wheel woes landing him in 26th.

Reflecting on the ride, Kaz Grala notes, “I also know that anything can happen because at least one, if not both, of those times I did make it, I was actually in a position where I wasn’t going to make it because I got wrecked or I got a speeding penalty. I’ve not had the smoothest duals before, and they’ve ended up falling in my favor at the end because of crazy circumstances. I’ve been on the right end of that, but I know that it’s possible to be on the wrong end of that too.”

As he preps for his third Daytona 500 run in an open car with Front Row Motorsports, Grala’s no stranger to the tension, dubbing it the most nerve-wracking week in racing. But with a track record of making it through the mayhem, he’s holding onto a hopeful outlook. He said, “This will be my third time going to the 500 as an open car, and I know what that stress is like. […] That has got to be the most stressful week of the year in racing when you’re in that position. I know from experience that the race can be made, so I feel confident that I know how to get there. I’ve done it before, so far, I’m two for two.”

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Joining Kaz Grala in the fray are other non-chartered hopefuls: Anthony Alfredo in the #62 for Beard Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson in the #84 for Legacy Motor Club, and David Ragan in the #60 for RFK Racing, with BJ McLeod likely at the helm of the #78 Live Fast Motorsports entry. With confidence in Front Row Motorsports’ Ford Mustang, Grala’s all in on the Daytona 500 prep, eyeing the 2024 season as a prime time to shine and show what they’re made of.

Kaz Grala is keeping his spirits high despite all the stress

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Brushing off the dust from the season’s opener with Rick Ware Racing, Grala’s all about turning those bumps in the road into stepping stones. He reflected, “We were right there with the RFK cars on pace at the Clash and the two of us didn’t make it and two of us did make it. But on a weekend where the RFK cars are really good or the guys to beat, then I look at that as an opportunity where maybe being just one step behind them means that we’re quite a bit up the field from where we were at the Clash.”

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Kaz Grala, now with Front Row Motorsports, is betting big on their Ford Mustang, convinced they’ve got the mojo to breeze through the duels. With a little help from their Ford buddies on the track, he’s feeling bullish about being one of the top four open cars crossing the finish line. But Grala’s not one to rest on his laurels; he knows all too well the track can throw struggles.