Amid ongoing legal disputes with NASCAR, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is pressing ahead with its plans for the 2025 season. The team has announced that NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Chandler Smith will take on one of its two chartered seats in the Craftsman Truck Series, reinforcing its commitment to competing at a high level in the series.
Smith will join Layne Riggs, the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year, in FRM’s lineup for 2025. Riggs, who secured an 11th-place finish last season, is expected to benefit from the addition of Smith, a rising talent with an impressive track record. FRM hopes this pairing will bolster its performance and boost its standing in owner points.
“I’m thrilled to join Front Row Motorsports’ truck program,” Smith said in a press release. “This team has established itself as a championship contender with a history of wins. I’m eager to contribute to what they’re building here. Though we’re getting a late start, I’m excited about the talented individuals we’re working with for 2025.”
FRM has established itself as a powerhouse in the Truck Series, having won the driver’s championship in 2022 and its first playoff race in 2016 at Pocono Raceway. The addition of Smith, who follows in the footsteps of former FRM Truck Series drivers Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith—both of whom later advanced to the Cup Series—continues this tradition of cultivating talent.
At just 22 years old, Smith brings a wealth of experience and success to FRM. In 2024, he drove full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, piloting the No. 81 Toyota. He claimed his first Xfinity Series win at Richmond Raceway in April 2023 and repeated the feat in March 2024, showcasing his skill at one of NASCAR’s most challenging tracks.
Smith’s Truck Series credentials are equally impressive. He competed with Kyle Busch Motorsports, winning five races and reaching the Championship 4 in 2022. His rookie season in 2021 featured two victories, including a clutch win at Bristol Motor Speedway during the Round of 10 and another at Phoenix Raceway to close the year. His time with Kaulig Racing in 2023 further broadened his experience. Before his success in NASCAR’s national series, Smith excelled in the ARCA Menards Series, earning 10 wins, 23 top-fives, and 30 top-10 finishes. His adaptability across various levels of NASCAR makes him an asset to FRM’s Truck Series program.
Meanwhile, FRM remains embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit alongside 23XI Racing, challenging NASCAR’s new charter agreement for the Cup Series. The teams argue that the system suppresses competition and grants NASCAR monopolistic control. On December 18, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell issued a preliminary injunction, ensuring FRM and 23XI Racing retain their charters for 2025 under the current rules. This decision provides temporary relief as the case continues.
The legal battle has also been complicated by disputes over Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) charters. FRM alleges NASCAR initially approved their transfer to FRM and 23XI Racing but later reversed course, requiring the teams to drop the lawsuit as a condition for approval. NASCAR has since appealed the injunction, seeking to limit or delay its effects.
