Front Row Motorsports plans to run two cars in 2010; driver talks continue
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Front Row Motorsports' John Andretti has made 31 starts this season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
FORT WORTH, Texas – Front Row Motorsports plans to field two NASCAR Sprint Cup cars full time in 2010, but who will drive them is still to be determined, team owner Bob Jenkins said Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.
Jenkins also said the team likely will change manufacturer from its current Chevrolet. He wouldn’t name which manufacturer the team was going to use.
“We’ve identified a lot of areas of our program where we can improve without spending a ton of money,” Jenkins said. “I think [2010] is going to be a good year for us. … The economy has helped our team. Our business model is not built [around] a $20 million sponsor. People have become available, equipment has become available.”
As far as drivers, Jenkins said he has been happy with John Andretti keeping the No. 34 team in the top 35 in owners points. It is 35th with a 135-point cushion on the Red Bull Racing No. 82 team of Scott Speed. The No. 37 car has attempted 25 Cup races this year, while the No. 34 Nationwide team is 19th in owner points and Tony Raines is 12th in the driver standings.
Whether Andretti and Raines return remains to be seen. Travis Kvapil and David Stremme are the drivers most often mentioned as potential candidates for that ride.
“We’ve talked to six guys, plus we’re pretty happy with John and Tony,” Jenkins said. “It’s not like we’re looking to change across the board or anything. We’ve talked to all the usual suspects. We’re going to try to narrow it down over the next couple of weeks. We haven’t had any serious discussions with anybody.
“I’m pretty loyal to the guys that we have. I want to get through this season, see where things stand, take a breath and then figure out what we want to do. It’s been hard to be critical because John has done exactly what we’ve asked him to do. Same thing with Tony. I don’t know if you will see any dramatic changes, but we will add the second [full-time] car next year.”
Jenkins also plans to continue the Nationwide program, but that will depend on funding.
“If somebody would have told me at the beginning of the season my Cup team would be in the top 35 and I’d have a top-20 Nationwide team, I’d be pleased,” Jenkins said. “Not ecstatic, but pleased. I feel like what we’ve done and what we’ve had to do it with, I think these guys have done a phenomenal job.”
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12 responses to "Front Row Motorsports plans to run two cars in 2010; driver talks continue". Post a Comment.
spurriersson said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 5:53 PMGood to see a smaller team make it in the big leagues.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportamalycke said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 6:16 PMFront Row Motorsports DOES NOT need to change ANY of their current drivers. Especially keep Kevin Hamlin far, far away from any of those cars.
Report as AbuseThat would be 100% RUDE as heck to fire John Andretti after he spent his entire heart and soul keeping the #34 in the Top 35.
NONE of the those other floppy drivers like Kvapil, Stremme, and Sorenson need to butt into this team. Stay out of 2010 - you didn't contribute anything in 2009. FRM has the most loyal fanbase, crew, and drivers that I've ever seen. Nobody is a close 2nd, sorry.
-Makoto34Ginseng.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgalvan18244 said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 8:39 PMJohn andretti is a joke, he has no talent, FRM should not bring him back!! theres too many good drivers out there without rides that are alot better. Also FRM will likely run dodge, they will prob. buy the old RPM dodge cars and motors and run them next year!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportNickDizzle7 said:
Nov 8, 2009 at 9:00 PMAndretti and Raines are better than Stremme and Sorenson....Kvapil might be a good choice though.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPhoenix987 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 2:29 AMGlad to see them expanding. I like what the owner said- "we aren't built around a $20 million sponsor" and are still managing to survive.
Report as AbuseHere's to hoping they run the second car the whole race, because it'll likely get into the Top 35 if they do that. I could see them going to Dodge full time and get some support like TRG was rumored to be doing. Whatever they do, they should be glad EGR downsized because they used the #15's points from last year for this season.
I think Kvapil and Mears would be decent drivers, but that remains to be seen.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrichardclower said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 10:02 AMAndretti and Raines? Better than Stremme and Sorenson? I must be watching different races. Reed and David have youth on their side and are a bit more talented than the old guys.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdjp141 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 11:19 AMAll FRM wants is for their driver to ride around, stay out of trouble, bring the car home in one piece, and maintain top-35 in points. That's what Andretti has done all year. If Stremme and Sorenson want to actually race, they need to look elsewhere.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportamalycke said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 11:32 AM#6, you must be confused [again]. Nobody asked which two drivers were older and has had more trips around the sun, they simply stated who they thought was a more compatible driver for the conservative FRM operation, and it clearly appears to be Tony Raines and John Andretti for another year.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportoldgirl said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 4:03 PMHow about Darnell?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCSears2008 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:33 PMgalvan18244, that is ridiculous. Go check out John Andretti's stats at racingreference.com. He is one of the most versatile, and talented drivers in motorsports, winning in NASCAR, CART, Sports Cars, Drag Racing,and much more... not to mention a top 5 in the Indy 500 with 10 total starts. Please think before you post things like that.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportkeith308 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 6:52 PMAndretti is as good or better than the others so why change.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportalexnascar said:
Nov 11, 2009 at 5:45 PMI think Andretti should be kept for next year, but Raines should be released or just run full time in the Nationwide Series. I think someone like Casey Atwood would do not bad.
Report as AbuseIT would be cool to see Matt Crafton in that car.
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