RICHMOND, Va. — Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports’ two incumbent Cup Series drivers, said this weekend that their future with the organization hasn’t been determined, but that their 2024 plans should materialize soon.
The two drivers offered their perspectives Saturday at Richmond Raceway, on the eve of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Five races remain before the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs field is set, and the veteran McDowell currently clings to the provisional 16th and final berth.
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McDowell’s performance in Front Row’s No. 34 Ford has been the in-house leader on the Cup Series side for the Bob Jenkins-owned operation, which now has three drivers on a modest rise. Gilliland, 23, has shown more pluck and consistency in his second Cup Series season with the No. 38 Ford team, and the organization also fields Craftsman Truck Series entries for 24-year-old Zane Smith, who won the tour’s championship last year and has come back strong in his title defense.
Smith seems destined for a Cup Series ride in the nearer rather than later future, and Front Row has added him to the premier-series roster for six races this season in the No. 38 — splitting time with Gilliland. How all three pieces may fit next year is what Gilliland called a good problem to have.
“I mean, I think this is a position that Front Row has never been in, honestly though,” Gilliland said. “I feel like with three of us that they feel are capable of putting in their Cup cars and doing well, so I think to me that it’s cool to see them in that position. So I’d say maybe not … it’s a little stressful sometimes being three that feel like you’re going for two seats, but I feel at home. I’ve been there for four years, and yeah, just definitely hoping that we can get something figured out.”
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McDowell, who has been with Front Row since 2018, acknowledged that his destination for next season still has some uncertainty. He said that his mind has been primarily occupied with the pursuit of the second postseason berth of his career, sitting just plus-17 above the provisional elimination line.
“I really haven’t thought a whole lot about it,” McDowell said. “Part of it is, it’s not up to me. I’m not sitting there with choices, and I get to make the choice. So to me, I’m just trying to do my job every week and get the best results as we can to get in the playoffs. But the time is coming soon, so we’ll see how it all shakes out.”
Gilliland also is on an upward trajectory, making incremental gains in his sophomore Cup Series season and noting that “it’s nice that we’re having talks now rather than November, December.” He ranks 24th in points, but his statistical markers have shown some improvement over his rookie campaign.
“Overall, I feel like I’m in a much better position this year in general of just like, my name is in more talks,” Gilliland said, “and I feel like I’m a more viable option for more people.”