Front Row Motorsports (FRM) announced a series of significant Front Row Motorsports leadership updates within its Competition department as the team prepares for the 2026 NASCAR Cup and Truck Series seasons. The moves affect several key positions across the organization, aiming to enhance performance and readiness for upcoming challenges on the track.
Major Shifts in Competition Leadership
Drew Blickensderfer, previously Crew Chief for the No. 4 team and Noah Gragson, has been promoted to Competition Director. In this elevated role, Blickensderfer will collaborate closely with current Technical Director Seth Barbour, who continues to lead engineering and technical strategy for the organization. Blickensderfer’s impressive resume includes 17 years as a NASCAR Cup Series Crew Chief, during which he achieved four victories, 30 top-five finishes, and 85 top-10 results. His most prominent achievements include leading Matt Kenseth to a win at the 2009 Daytona 500 and guiding Michael McDowell to victory in the 2021 Daytona 500.
Grant Hutchens to Head No. 4 Team as Crew Chief
Grant Hutchens steps into the role of Crew Chief for Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Hutchens brings a wealth of NASCAR experience, having begun his career at Evernham Motorsports and spent five years honing his skills there. Hutchens later contributed at Richard Childress Racing as race engineer for Paul Menard, Kevin Harvick, and Ryan Newman. Most recently, he held several senior engineering roles at Team Penske, including joining forces with Ryan Blaney during Blaney’s rookie NASCAR Cup Series season in 2016, and ultimately served as Team Penske’s test team Crew Chief heading into 2025.
Aerodynamics Management Receives a Boost with Jonathan DeHart
FRM also confirmed Jonathan DeHart has joined the team as Aerodynamics Manager. DeHart comes with notable expertise, having served as IndyCar Aero Car Chief for GM Racing and held the role of Body Production Manager at Hendrick Motorsports. DeHart is now tasked with overseeing FRM’s aerodynamic operations, bringing further depth to the technical leadership lineup.
Leadership Reflections and Strategic Vision
“We are very fortunate, and I am extremely excited to add experienced, talented people like Grant and Jonathan to leadership roles in the organization”
— Bob Jenkins, Team Owner
“With the inclusion of our Truck Series teams, we operate (5) full-time teams and I’m equally as excited to have Drew turn his attention to providing direction and guidance to our crew chiefs and competition group as a whole. Having Drew in this new role for us and Seth being able to focus on the technical aspects within our team, it puts us in a better position to execute on the track and achieve our goals in 2026.”
— Bob Jenkins, Team Owner
Immediate Rollout and Upcoming Testing Events
These leadership changes take effect immediately, with the FRM team preparing for upcoming testing sessions this month. Testing will take place at North Wilkesboro for the Cup Series and Rockingham for the Truck Series as the countdown begins for the season’s first main event at the Bowman Gray Clash on February 1st.
Anticipated Impact on the 2026 Season
With Drew Blickensderfer steering competition strategy, Grant Hutchens leading the No. 4 team alongside Noah Gragson, and Jonathan DeHart advancing aerodynamic capabilities, FRM positions itself for greater success in 2026. These moves reflect the organization’s emphasis on experienced leadership and technical innovation, setting the stage for heightened competitiveness throughout the NASCAR Cup and Truck Series seasons.
