Moffitt set to return to Cup series after weekend off

NASCAR's latest round of musical chairs left Brett Moffitt without a ride after the engines shut down Sunday in Richmond.

But the Grimes native is prepared to get back in the game next weekend when they're fired up again in Kansas.

Moffitt confirmed Tuesday in a text message that he'll be behind the wheel of the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Ford for the May 9 Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. It'll be his second stint this season in the ride that was originally supposed to belong to David Ragan, who will take over the No. 55 next week after piloting the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Toyota for nine races in place of injured Kyle Busch.

The driver shuffle began in the offseason when Brian Vickers underwent heart surgery, which created a one-race opening for Moffitt in the No. 55. He capitalized on the opportunity by posting a career-best eighth-place finish in March at Atlanta.

That performance earned Moffitt a two-race cameo in the No. 34, a seat that had been left empty after Busch broke his leg in the first Xfinity Series race of the season and Ragan moved into the No. 18.

Moffitt later returned to the No. 55 car for a five-race stretch after Vickers dealt with recurring blood clots.

The latest flurry of changes came after Joe Gibbs Racing opted to put 18-year-old Erik Jones in the No. 18 for his first Cup start at Kansas. It's unclear who will drive the No. 34 after next weekend's race. Front Row Motorsports has not announced its driver lineup beyond this weekend's race at Talladega.

Moffitt, who remains under contract with Michael Waltrip Racing, is currently second in the Rookie of the Year standings. He trails Jeb Burton by 19 points.