Front Row Motorsports has announced its expansion to three cars in the NASCAR Cup Series for the 2025 season after purchasing a charter. The team did not disclose the seller of the charter but made the decision following Stewart-Haas Racing's announcement of closing its four-car Cup team.
The financial details of the charter purchase were not revealed, but it is noted that Spire Motorsports paid $40 million for a charter last year. Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins expressed optimism about NASCAR's future and the team's growth plans, stating, 'Today that means having a plan for expanding back to three cars in the NASCAR Cup Series.'
The NASCAR charter system guarantees entry into all 36 Cup races each season, ensuring revenue from the series' television package through participation. While there are four 'open' spots in the field each week for non-charter teams, these are being reserved in case a new manufacturer enters the series.
Current charters are set to expire at the end of the season, leading to ongoing negotiations between teams and NASCAR over a new agreement. Teams are pushing for permanent charters, but NASCAR has not agreed to this request.
Front Row Motorsports has not yet announced its driver lineup for the 2025 season. The team currently fields Fords for Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland, with McDowell set to move to Spire next season.
This year, Front Row extended its partnership with Ford Performance and established a competition alliance with Team Penske. General Manager Jerry Freeze emphasized the work ahead in preparing for the new team, stating, 'Starting a new team from scratch is always a challenge, but with the opportunities in front of us, the talent we have in our leadership, and a bit of a runway to get there, I am confident that we can produce three competitive programs out of the box for the 2025 season.'
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