At the end of the 2015 season, rumors were abounding about the future of Front Row Motorsports. After a year that saw a shuffling of drivers through the #34 Ford following the departure of super-substitute David Ragan, many wondered if the team would become a new satellite organization for Richard Childress Racing, following the Furniture Row Racing switch to Toyota.

On the surface, the move made sense. RCR, a team with a long line of driver success, had a number of development drivers who were looking for Cup rides. Both Ty Dillon and Brian Scott found success in their Xfinity Series program, and one of them has already landed a Cup ride at Richard Petty Motorsports. And it would be that Ford connection that would keep Front Row Motorsports with the blue oval.

Front Row will be a Ford team once again, now with stronger ties to Roush-Fenway Racing. The team becomes a satellite organization to the top Ford team in the sport, much like RPM. And it is through that partnership that FRM has signed 2015 Xfinity Series Champion Chris Buescher to drive in 2016.

Buescher brings an immediate relevance to Team FRM. A consistent contender for victories in the Xfinity Series, Buescher began his rise through the Ford ranks as the one of the youngest ARCA Series champions ever in 2012. And in five relief starts for Front Row in 2015, Buescher was up to the task of battling with the big boys of the Cup Series. No one is expecting instant success from Buescher with an often under-performing team, but the room for growth is clear.

The story is deeper than the Buescher signing for this perennial back-marker team, however. This new partnership with Roush-Fenway brings new support in car development and pit crew training and staffing, providing the team with the opportunity to move up the grid. After many years where FRM was unable to maintain a full slate of sponsors, it is likely that the partnership could net some sponsorship help as well.

While no one is saying that Front Row Motorsports is set to contend for championships in 2016, the team is certainly expected to improve their finishes in the new year. With an expected consolidation to two cars, conserving further resources and focusing energy back to two strong teams, a realistic goal for this team would be to finish in the Top 20 on a consistent basis.

In the end, things are looking up for Front Row Motorsports, and with a second driver yet to be announced, a budding relationship with Roush-Fenway could be a saving grace for the team.

Main Image