With Noah Gragson set to anchor Front Row Motorsports’ expansion into a three-car operation beginning in 2025, the winds of change are blowing through the team. The deal marks a fresh start for the 25-year-old driver, whose current team at Stewart-Haas Racing is closing at the end of 2024. Despite the fact that Noah Gragson remains part of the Ford Performance organization, he also faces a daunting task. Gragson replaces Michael McDowell, one of FRM’s cornerstone drivers, as the program moves into a new era.

Despite McDowell’s multi year contract with Spire Motorsports, Noah Gragson and the remaining team members will work together to fill his legacy. The transition will be further enlivened by the reunion of Gragson with Todd Gilliland, his former teammate from Kyle Busch Motorsports. However, rekindling old partnerships isn’t the whole story. It is about bridging the gap left by McDowell, whose contributions to FRM have been transformative.

McDowell’s departure leaves a void that’s filled by Noah Gragson

The driver of the No. 38 Ford, Todd Gilliland, candidly addressed this on SiriusXM Radio, saying McDowell was an “amazing teammate.” He expressed both admiration and sadness. “He’s a super great guy,” Gilliland said. “He’s always been an amazing teammate to me. So definitely sad he’s leaving.”

For Gilliland, McDowell’s presence at Front Row Motorsports was more than just another experienced driver in the shop. It was the kind of steady leadership teams rarely find, especially in an organization striving to make strides in the highly competitive Cup Series. In addition to recognizing McDowell’s contributions, Gilliland described him as a leader by example as well as by title. “I don’t know that any one person is going to be able to fill Michael’s shoes,” he admitted. The departure of McDowell also shows the culture he helped shape.

He credits Michael McDowell‘s influence as a key part of Front Row Motorsports’ transformation in recent years. “I think the culture has changed so much over the last 5 to 10 years,” Todd Gilliland said, praising McDowell’s collaborative culture. “It’s never going to be easy, but at the same time, it’s a little easier because of that.” While McDowell moves on to the next chapter, Gilliland is determined to carry forward the lessons he’s learned from his time with the veteran driver.

Having worked alongside McDowell for three years in the Cup Series and five years overall at Front Row, Gilliland has seen firsthand the dedication it takes to succeed in NASCAR. “I’ve seen how significant that job is and how imperative it is to keep pushing the road forward,” he shared.

As Front Row Motorsports adjusts to life without McDowell, Gilliland believes the responsibility to fill the void will fall on everyone in the shop. While he’s confident in crew chief Ryan Bergenty and the other leaders within the organization, Gilliland remains pragmatic about the challenge ahead. “It’s not going to come from one person,” he said. “But we’ve got a lot of really good people that I think are going to be able to step up.”

As FRM prepares for

Michael McDowell joins Spire Motorsports for 2025 NASCAR season

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Meanwhile, Michael McDowell’s move to Spire Motorsports marks an exciting new chapter in his career. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, the 39-year-old races full-time in NASCAR’s Cup series. Since 2018, he’s been with Front Row Motorsports but that partnership ends this year. Beginning with the 2025 season, McDowell will drive the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series.

McDowell and the team have shown steady improvement during his time with Front Row. His two Cup series victories, including the 2021 Daytona 500, have come in Front Row cars. Since the start of the season, he has scored two pole positions and three top-10 finishes. During the last three seasons, he’s also made NASCAR’s Playoffs twice, finishing 15th in the final driver standings. 

Michael McDowell’s winning track record and playoff experience are important to Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt. Duchardt expressed confidence in McDowell’s ability to fit seamlessly into the organization despite his commitment to elevating his teams. He said, “I think that that’s one of Michael’s strengths. In how he sets the tone, how he sets that energy and how he sets that narrative. And for our group, as we grow, it’s imperative to me that we run as one three-car team.”

McDowell’s enthusiasm and experience make him a great teammate for Corey LaJoie and Carson Hocevar, and Duchart sees him as a key addition to Spire Motorsports.

Duchardt reaffirmed Spire Motorsports’ commitment to Trackhouse Racing and the No. 71 team for the 2024 season. Adding that the team is starting to reach its potential, he emphasized the organization’s full support for Zane Smith and Stefan Doran. Smith and Hocevar’s rivalry for Rookie of the Year reflects the competitive energy surrounding the team’s efforts in the coming season, according to Duchardt.