Front Row Motorsports plans to run two cars in 2010; driver talks continue
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.”
