Photo courtesy of Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Both Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland will return to Front Row Motorsports in 2023, the team announced Thursday.
It will be McDowell’s sixth season in the No. 34 Ford Mustang and Gilliland’s second in the No. 38. Ryan Bergenty has been named as the No.38 team’s new crew chief. Bergenty joined FRM in 2021 as McDowell’s car chief.
🚨NEWS🚨
Front Row Motorsports sets their driver lineup for 2023 with @ToddGilliland_ and @Mc_Driver
Ryan Bergenty named Crew Chief of the No. 38 Ford Mustang.
Read more here: https://t.co/kiXUOUefk8 pic.twitter.com/siPSx7o6va
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) December 15, 2022
Though he didn’t find victory lane in 2022, the 37-year-old McDowell is coming off his best statistical season, leading 67 laps and earning a career-high 12 top-10 finishes. He also tied his career-best of two top-five finishes.
Travis Peterson has been named McDowell’s new crew chief, replacing Blake Harris. Harris is joining Hendrick Motorsports to become fellow Arizonan Alex Bowman’s crew chief.
Gilliland finished up his rookie season in the Cup Series with two top-10 finishes and a fourth-place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He also earned his third Truck Series win at Knoxville Raceway driving for his father’s team, David Gilliland Racing.
Gilliland said at NASCAR Championship Weekend that he was used to having teammates his own age at other stops in his career. Throughout his rookie season, Gilliland had a role model to lean on in the veteran McDowell.
@Team_FRM rookie @ToddGilliland_ is used to having teammates his same age at other levels. This year, he had a role model to lean on throughout his first Cup Series season in veteran Michael McDowell. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/IxHoHuNpuP
— Michael Manny (@michaelmanny98) November 5, 2022
McDowell finished the season 23rd in the standings. The No. 34 team was penalized 100 points in August after a single source vendor part was found to be modified improperly. Gilliland finished 28th.
The two drivers will begin a new run at the Cup Series playoffs at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles Feb. 5.
