Front Row Motorsports demonstrated resilience in the latest NASCAR event, fighting back after setbacks to secure respectable finishes at Darlington Raceway. This Front Row Motorsports Darlington Race Report highlights the determination of drivers Zane Smith, Noah Gragson, and Todd Gilliland as they navigated the challenging track known for testing even the most seasoned competitors.
Zane Smith Delivers Impressive Recovery
Zane Smith rebounded from a tough start to climb the standings throughout the race. After finishing Stage One in thirty-first and Stage Two in twenty-fourth, Smith pushed forward and crossed the finish line at fourteenth. Reflecting on his race night and the team‘s performance following recent frustrations at Daytona, Smith stated,
“It’s nice to come away with a strong finish after what happened in Daytona,”
said Smith.
“There’s no doubt we had to fight for this one, but I’m proud of the effort from Ryan (Bergenty) and the team for bringing another fast Ford. Hopefully we can take this momentum into next week and tack on another good result.”
—Zane Smith, Driver
Noah Gragson Finds Consistency and Momentum
Noah Gragson also enjoyed a noteworthy result, steadily improving his position throughout the event. Starting Stage One in twenty-second and advancing through Stage Two in fourteenth, Gragson ultimately matched Smith with a fourteenth-place finish. Gragson noted the smooth execution and positive takeaway from the night, emphasizing the team‘s improvement, steady pit stops, and the slight pace deficit as the race drew to a close. He expressed optimism that a longer race could have delivered an even better result:
“It felt good to finally have a normal day,”
said Gragson.
“We just chipped away all night, kept moving forward with a solid car, solid stops, and no mistakes. At the end we just needed a little more speed to get to where we wanted, but not much. If the race was 20 laps longer, we probably come home 9th or 10th. Definitely something we can build off of.”
—Noah Gragson, Driver
Todd Gilliland Battles Setbacks, Shows Team Spirit
Todd Gilliland faced greater difficulty during his run at Darlington. After placing twenty-sixth in the opening stage and slipping to twenty-eighth in stage two, he finished the race in the same spot he started, twenty-sixth. Despite being caught a lap down, Gilliland maintained a positive attitude, appreciating both the effort put in by the team and the distinctive Grillo’s Pickles car design. Discussing his experience, he said,
“Darlington was a definitely ‘Too Tough to Tame’ this time around,”
said Gilliland.
“We got trapped a lap down and just could never get it back which made for a long night. While it wasn’t the result we wanted, we still had a great weekend with Grillo’s Pickles and the ‘Hot Pickle’ scheme on our car.”
—Todd Gilliland, Driver
Impact and What Comes Next for Front Row Motorsports
The Darlington weekend proves Front Row Motorsports continues to make progress, with drivers showcasing improvement and resilience in difficult conditions. Key team members such as Ryan Bergenty played pivotal roles, and the team looks to build on this steady momentum. As they prepare for the next round, optimism is tempered by awareness of the challenges ahead. The determination shown at the Southern 500 and by title favorites will motivate the team as they look forward to upcoming races and further chances to climb the standings.
