NASCAR insider predicts likely candidates for 3rd Front Row seat after Noah Gragson announcement

Front Row Motorsports was in a bit of flux after Michael McDowell announced his move to Spire Motorsports for 2025 earlier this season, but a clearer picture is being painted as time moves forward.

First, FRM inked Todd Gilliland to a multi-year extension, keeping the promising, young wheelman with the team for the next couple of pivotal seasons. Then, Noah Gragson was revealed to be joining the organization on Wednesday, a huge signing as Stewart-Haas Racing closes their doors.

Now, as FRM acquires a third charter for 2025, there’s the question of who their final addition will be to the team, driver-wise. According to FOX’s Bob Pockrass, there’s three likely candidates at the moment, and they’d all bring something different to the table.

“The most likely candidates for this ride are Zane Smith, Sam Mayer and Christian Eckes,” Pockrass noted. “Smith won a truck championship for Front Row a couple of years ago and him reuniting with his former team seems more possible now than a month ago.

“He currently is under contract with Trackhouse, but with NASCAR likely limiting organizations that don’t currently have four charters to three charters, he could be the odd driver out in that stable. Sam Mayer (who brings some funding) and Christian Eckes also are possibilities.”

Smith would certainly make the most sense, as he has history with the team, and he could be the odd man out at Trackhouse in 2025. Shane van Gisbergen is going to need a ride, and Smith hasn’t exactly rendered himself indispensable through his performance this season in the Cup Series.

On the other hand, Mayer and Eckes are still a little green as drivers, but they’d be an interesting swing for FRM’s third car. It could happen, but it might be considered a step-down by some if they’re the choice instead of Smith.

Regardless of who the third driver is, it’s fantastic news for Gragson and FRM as a whole that he will remain in the Cup Series moving forward. While he had a rough go of it with Legacy Motor Club in 2022, he’s been impressive since joining SHR, and he’s rebuilt his reputation in the process.

Some theorized Gragson could return to the Xfinity Series, due to his relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. That would’ve been a solid fallback plan for Gragson, but he’s proving he can run in Cup week-in and week-out, so it might be below his talents, for now.

Nevertheless, Front Row Motorsports is building their team up little by little, and the addition of Noah Gragson will only strengthen their cause in 2025. It remains to be seen who joins their current duo, but whoever it is will benefit from working with such a talented group.