Front Row Motorsports GM Jerry Freeze comments on possible Stewart-Haas Racing merger

Silly Season got started this week with the news that Michael McDowell is heading to Spire Motorsports in 2025, leaving Front Row Motorsports. Since then, the NASCAR rumor mill has been doing its thing.

The latest rumors with Front Row Motorsports allude to the team expanding in one of two ways. FRM is now a Tier 1 Ford partner along with Team Penske and RFK. They also have an alliance with Penske for data and things. FRM could buy a charter in the offseason.

Stewart-Haas Racing is rumored to be downsizing. That could mean selling one or two charters and potentially even one of the two buildings that they own. Here’s the kicker – there is speculation that the two teams could merge.

Front Row Motorsports GM Jerry Freeze spoke on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio earlier on Thursday. He addressed the expansion/merger rumors.

Freeze says that there is “a lot of smoke, not a lot of substance.” There’s one thing we know Stewart-Haas Racing has, and that’s Smoke. So, who knows if the GM is being completely honest here or just trying to calm down the gossip around his organization.

It is clear that Front Row is rising while Stewart-Haas is on the downhill side of things. Four cars at SHR just aren’t working. FRM wants to expand and grow. Whether they stay as two different organizations or merge in one way or another, it’s going to likely help both of them get what they need.

Front Row Motorsports undergoing changes

While Front Row Motorsports is looking to expand, they are going to have to fill at least one seat for next season. Michael McDowell has decided to take his talents to Spire Motorsports. The multiyear deal gives him the stability he didn’t have on one-year deals at FRM.

With Gainbridge sponsorship at Spire and potentially more involvement from the Andretti family at some point in the near future, it’s not a shock to see them go out and get McDowell. He will take over the 71 car that Zane Smith is driving, Smith is under contract with Trackhouse.

Spire has a lot of money right now. They wanted a driver who is experienced, has recent wins, helped build an organization already, and someone who wants to be driving for years to come.

Meanwhile, Front Row Motorsports has to decide if Todd Gilliland is the future. They also have to decide if the merger will happen, do they buy another charter, who goes into that car and the empty No. 34 car? The FRM that we see today won’t be the same organization we see a year from now.