CLERMONT, Ind. — Front Row Motorsports teammates Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith both aspire to climb the ranks into the NASCAR Cup Series.
For now, they’re doing their parts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, combining to win each of the last two races in dominant fashion. But at the sport’s upper echelon, there doesn’t appear to be any room at the inn — at least not as a driver for Front Row’s three-car effort in the Cup Series.
Jerry Freeze, general manager of Front Row Motorsports, is tasked with navigating his drivers’ aspirations through tough business decisions. Zane Smith signed a multiyear contract extension to keep him in the No. 38 Ford through at least 2027. Last week, the team announced Todd Gilliland signed a contract extension to remain in the No. 34 Ford through next season. And in an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio this week, Freeze said Noah Gragson is nearing a contract extension that keeps him in the team’s No. 4 Ford through 2027 as well; a deal that will close the last open seat at the organization for at least another season.
With two eager drivers winning at the lower levels in Riggs and Smith, Freeze has to balance their success and desires with patience and a business sense.
“Yeah, that’s a big challenge,” Freeze told NASCAR.com Friday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, site of Riggs’ latest romp. “That’s a big challenge because all these guys have ambition to be at the highest level for sure. And we’ve got five guys that are all anywhere from 24 to 28 years old, and so they all believe they can race on Sundays — and I believe they can all race on Sundays. And in this sport, unfortunately, sometimes you’ve got to have the whole package together with sponsorship and all the pieces have to work together to make it happen.
“And so for us, we really believe in Noah, and we just haven’t been able to get the success out of him and that team that I feel like is there. There’s some new stuff coming in the Ford camp next year that I think is going to help improve the overall product. Anyhow, we just wanted to give it another shot with Noah next year, and we’ve got a good group of sponsors around him. Todd’s been with us; it’ll be eight years total with Front Row starting next year, which is pretty long term. We really believe in him, and Zane’s doing a fantastic job.
“We’d love to see Layne get a chance — and he will get a chance. He will get a chance, and we see a bright, bright future with Layne for sure. Chandler’s capable of doing it too. But you’re right. That’s the hardest part.”
Riggs has made his ambitions known, particularly as he hunts for his first Craftsman Truck Series title in his third full-time season with a career-high five wins. But for now, he’s content to keep winning in hopes of eventually earning that trip up the career ladder.
“The desire is always there for any driver, anybody who wants to be racing on Sundays in top-notch equipment,” Riggs said. “My main focus is just to keep doing what I’m doing here. I don’t have any races planned to run any time soon. There’s nothing I can do there besides just work hard behind the scenes to put deals together. But right now, I’m fully focused on winning truck races and supporting Front Row Motorsports in all their endeavors.”
Smith, who spent the 2023 and 2024 campaigns in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, is content wherever he lands so long as he’s behind the wheel.
“I just want the Lord’s will, whatever that means,” Smith said. “If that’s to race trucks for the rest of my life, that’s what I want to do. If the Lord obviously presents me and pushes me into an opportunity that lands in my lap and is just there and it’s pretty evident, then I want to just submit myself and be a vessel. I mean that wholeheartedly, truthfully.”
In the meantime, Riggs leads the Truck Series standings by 100 points with just two races remaining in the regular season, while Smith sits third in the standings with two victories.